The Hindu : National : Manmohan's assurance to Muslims

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Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006

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National

Manmohan's assurance to Muslims

Vinay Kumar

``Chief Ministers' meeting to address their concerns of being targeted''

— Photo: R. V. Moorthy

ADVICE TO ULEMAS: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Maulana Marghobur Rehman (left) and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Rahman Khan at the conference on `Terrorism: Causes and Remedies' in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Asserting that terrorism should not be linked to any religion in particular, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday announced that he would soon convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers to address the concerns of "being targeted and wrongly implicated" by law enforcement agencies while probing terror-related crimes.

Addressing the concluding session of a conference on `Terrorism: Causes and Remedies', organised by Muslim clerics and religious leaders at Parliament House Annexe here, the Prime Minister assured the gathering of taking "concrete steps" to dispel their doubts and fears of being at the receiving end of security and law enforcement agencies. His promise came on a query relating to the ongoing investigation of the July 11, 2006 Mumbai serial blasts in which, ulemas claimed, only Muslims were being picked up by the police.

"I have spoken to the Maharashtra Chief Minister. The incident at Nanded is also under investigation. It is wrong to cast doubts only on the Muslim community during investigations. Terrorists have no religion. About 15 years ago when terrorism flared up in Punjab, Sikhs were meted out the same treatment. If the LTTE is involved in a terrorist-related crime, it does not mean that Tamils are involved. This kind of blame on the basis of religious affiliations is totally wrong. Police and security agencies have to take care not to cast doubts on the patriotism of Muslims or any other community," Dr. Singh said.

Striking an emotional chord with the ulemas and addressing the gathering in chaste Urdu, Dr. Singh said that he identified with the concerns and agonising experiences of the community and assured that the Government steps to address these concerns would come sooner than expected. At the same time, the Prime Minister used the opportunity to request the ulemas to fulfil their role of religious teachers by providing exemplary leadership and telling the Muslim youth to choose the right path. "Tell the youth that they should neither be lured by anyone nor pay heed to any kind of provocation. They should set their eyes on getting good education and participate in the nation's progress," he said.

Terming attempts to label Muslims as "terrorists" as a "cheap and petty conspiracy" designed to provoke them, Dr. Singh asserted that a "terrorist has no caste, no religion and no language." On a note of caution, he said that "terrorists are our common enemies and we need to remain vigilant against them." He urged the ulemas to foil the "cheap conspiracy", fight evil designs and find out ways to bring forward Muslim youth for the progress of the community and the nation.

While favouring the unique way of imparting education by madrassas, the Prime Minister said the time has come to modernise their ways of educating young minds.

The Prime Minister also referred to the backwardness of Muslim women in the field of education. Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha K. Rehman Khan, Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed also interacted with the ulemas. The two-day conference adopted a declaration, disapproving and condemning terrorism in any form despite well planned attempts to link Islam with terrorism.

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