A gathering, held at the residence of former Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung (in image), was reportedly attended by leaders of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Darul Uloom Deoband, and others, in addition to Haji Syed Salman Chisti of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
A closed-door assembly between the leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the representatives of assorted Muslim our bodies in mid-January in New Delhi has now triggered a political storm in Kerala.
Though the media in the State received wind of the assembly solely a month later, the participation of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) in the RSS’s minority outreach programme has seemingly acquired a communal color. The assembly, held at the residence of former Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, was reportedly attended by leaders of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Darul Uloom Deoband, and others, in addition to Haji Syed Salman Chisti of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
Subsequently, JIH basic secretary T. Arif Ali needed to make clear that the assembly ought to be seen positively, and that the discussions dwelt on points that impacted the Muslim group like mob lynching and bulldozer politics.
Nevertheless, the assembly was opposed by different Muslim organisations reminiscent of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the Kerala Muslim Jamaath, and the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM).
CM’s quip
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders P.Okay. Kunhalikutty and M.Okay. Muneer stated that there was no scenario for holding talks with the RSS and identified that it was harmful for individuals who imagine in secularism to carry reconciliation talks with the RSS.
It was Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who put the highlight on the RSS-JIH secret parleys. He wished the Muslim outfit to reveal the particulars of what occurred behind closed doorways. The Chief Minister additionally puzzled if the Congress and the IUML had any position in these talks.
The JIH State management hit again by accusing the Chief Minister and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) of spreading Islamophobia. The Assistant Amir of the JIH Kerala, P. Mujeeb Rahman, stated varied different spiritual teams and even political events like the CPI(M) have held talks with the RSS in the previous however had been by no means subjected to such hostile grilling.
Mr. Rahman stated that the JIH may by no means compromise with the RSS however would settle for any alternative to offer vent to the issues of the Muslim group. He additionally recalled how the JIH had taken the initiative to open a dialogue with the Araya Samajam to calm tempers in the aftermath of the communal violence at Marad twenty years in the past.
The Congress, too, spoke of the CPI(M)’s hypocrisy. It stated the CPI(M) leaders had held secret conferences with the RSS earlier. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan identified that the JIH was in the firm of the CPI(M) for almost 42 years.
Incidentally, the JIH and its political wing, the Welfare Party of India, had been staunch supporters of the Left for a very long time, however shifted loyalty in the direction of the Congress since the Lok Sabha polls of 2019. Thereafter, the CPI(M) has publicly castigated the JIH as a communal outfit.
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The CPI(M) now paints each the RSS and the JIH as fundamentalist organisations.
BJP’s ethical excessive floor
Taking a excessive ethical floor, BJP State president Okay. Surendran stated that the Congress and the CPI(M) have a powerful intolerance in the direction of Muslims and Hindus coexisting peacefully.
However, political observers really feel that the JIH has solely itself responsible for its present predicament. Its behavior of branding folks, together with Muslim intellectuals, who provoke talks with the RSS, as gentle Hindutva supporters has now returned to hang-out the JIH. Worse, the JIH had stored the assembly below wraps.
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Some infer that the JIH had come to phrases with the BJP as the get together has strongly consolidated its political place in India. Nonetheless, they’ve famous that two ideologically opposed organisations sitting throughout the desk in itself was commendable.
Other Muslim teams, too, have made makes an attempt to forge nearer bonds with the BJP. Last December, the KNM invited BJP chief and Goa Governor P. Sreedharan Pillai for its State convention.
Meanwhile, the BJP nationwide management is beginning a Muslim outreach programme throughout 14 States together with Kerala from March 10. Certainly, the RSS has modified since the Narendra Modi-led BJP authorities assumed workplace in 2014, nevertheless it should rein in a few of its fringe proper wing components to foster a extra inclusive society.
biju.govind@thehindu.co.in
