Author: Our Special Correspondent
Publication: The Hindu
Date: February 13, 2005
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/13/stories/2005021313251000.htm
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-sponsored
"Nationalist Muslim Conclave" began today with a call to the minority community
to `adopt patriotism' as a way of life and `join the national mainstream'
by rejecting terrorism and separatist tendencies. The conclave was held
at the Muslim Musafirkhana here under tight security amid protests by Muslim
organisations.
Police arrested a large number of
protesters on Friday night for staging a dharna at the gate of the Musafirkhana
demanding a change of venue.
Even though prohibitory orders under
Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code were in force, Muslim activists
today staged a demonstration at Moti Dungari Road when the conclave was
in progress.
Muslim organisations have termed
the meeting a part of the Sangh Parivar's continuing `hate campaign' and
an effort to divide the community by projecting the impression that "only
those Muslims who associate with RSS are nationalist."
The two-day convention has been
organised by the `My Hindustan' cell of the RSS in association with the
Madrassa Board of the Rajasthan Government.
This is the fourth conclave to be
held by the cell since its establishment a couple of years ago. Previous
conventions were organised in Delhi and Indore.
Earlier, the RSS Sah Sampark Pramukh,
Indresh Kumar, addressed the inaugural session and called upon Muslims
to raise their voice against terrorism "sponsored by Pakistan" in Jammu
and Kashmir.
"The burning issues in the community
relate to illiteracy, unemployment and disease which should be addressed
to ensure its development on a par with other communities in the country,"
he said.
Delegates from various parts of
Rajasthan and Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir
are attending the conclave.
The protests against the convention
were spearheaded by the Rajasthan Muslim Forum, an umbrella body of Muslim
organisations.
"Project distinct identity"
PTI, UNI add:
In his speech, the RSS chief, K.S.
Sudarshan, who is in the city to review the Sangh's activities,called upon
the assembled Muslims "to project a tolerant variant of Islam as against
the jehadi variant."
"Educated Muslims want to keep themselves
away from the jehadi variant of Islam which is rearing its head in other
parts of the world," he said. "Indian Muslims can project a very bright
picture of Islam before the world." On India-Pakistan relations, Mr. Sudarshan
said the people of both countries wanted to live in peace, maintaining
brotherly relationship.
