NEW DELHI: Aimed at identifying the causes that spur terrorism among sections of disillusioned youth of the country, Delhi's Jama Masjid announced the creation of a new non-government organisation -- Jama Masjid United Forum (JMUF) -- comprising prominent members drawn from diverse faiths and occupations.

JMUF was formally launched by Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, who also inaugurated its website www.jmuf.org at a function on Monday.

The new NGO will be led by Syed Yahya Bukhari, community leader and brother of the current Shahi Imam. It will include prominent persons like former Union Cabinet Secretary Zafar Saifullah, banker Shamim Kazim, columnist Sadia Dehlvi and Akhil Bharatiya Brahmin Mahasangha founder-member Deepak Sharma.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Dikshit said: "I am delighted that Jama Masjid has taken the lead to fight the forces that foment terrorism because it is such a widely revered and influential institution in our country."

A-political forum

JMUF will be a non-partisan, a-political and secular organisation open to all persons irrespective of race, religion, gender or caste.

"JMUF's aim is to investigate, isolate and effectively resist the root cause of terrorism in India and its neighbourhood," said Syed Bukhari.

"The Forum will attempt to identify the real causes that drive people to such desperate measures, create awareness of these causes, generate debate and discussion to throw up solutions and work logically to implement these solutions where they can work at the grass root level," he added.

JMUF will hold a seminar on May 26 in the Capital where intellectuals, spiritual leaders, scholars, politicians and other eminent personalities from different countries are expected to take part.

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