The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Islamic forum condemns blasts

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Thursday, Jul 31, 2008
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Islamic forum condemns blasts

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Akhila Karnataka Mohammadeeya Kannada Vedike held a public meeting here on Wednesday to condemn the serial blasts in Bangalore on July 25.

Shivarudra Swamiji of Beli Math said that the purpose of those who spread violence would be defeated only if people of the nation, irrespective of their religious faiths, stay united.

Quoting liberally from the text of Koran and incidents from the life of Prophet Mohammed, he said that peace and brotherhood formed the spirit of Islam.

He traced the division between religions to the days of the British Raj when the equal involvement of Muslims and Hindus in the rebellion of 1857 threatened the survival of the colonial powers. The British, he said, then divided people on communal lines to keep their own power in tact.

Congress leader R. Roshan Baig said that blasts and such other disruptive activities were the handiwork forces “who are out to destroy India as an economic power”. He said that unemployment and extreme poverty was often driving people to the clutches of anti-national elements. He called upon Muslims to be “vigilant, but not panic”.

Mr. Baig suggested that all masjids in the city should condemn the blasts during prayers on the coming Friday.

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