Muslim Organization Clashes Over Safety Perceptions in India
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an organization linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), strongly rejected on Sunday claims made by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) president Maulana Mahmood Madani that Muslims feel unsafe in India. The MRM accused separatist-minded clerics like Madani of hindering the progress of the Muslim community.
Constitutional Rights and Security Asserted
MRM's national convenor, S K Muddin, issued a formal statement declaring that Muslims enjoy full Constitutional rights and security throughout the country. This response came after Madani's Saturday allegations that systematic efforts were underway to establish the supremacy of one particular group through various means.
Madani had specifically pointed to bulldozer actions, mob lynching incidents, weakening of Muslim Waqf properties, and Islamic reforms as evidence of growing concerns within the minority community. The JUH leader had also expressed apprehension about judicial independence, suggesting that perceptions of courts working under government pressure had increased following the Babri Masjid verdict and other significant decisions.
India Described as Riot-Free Nation
Muddin, who previously served as chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Madarsa Board, countered these claims by asserting that Muslims are most secure in India compared to any other nation. He described contemporary India as essentially riot-free, noting that prohibitory orders are rarely imposed in current times.
The MRM leader contrasted the present situation with the pre-2014 era, claiming that newspapers and television channels previously carried daily reports of communal riots. Muddin emphasized that Madani had failed to acknowledge the significant contributions of Muslims serving in India's armed forces, security agencies, and other key institutions.
Addressing Madani's concerns about organized efforts to make certain groups legally helpless and socially isolated, Muddin argued that statements from leaders like the JUH chief had actually pushed Muslims backward in the race for progress since Independence.
National Identity and Religious Compatibility
The MRM convenor made a significant point about national integration, stating that reciting Vande Mataram is not against Islamic principles as the national song simply salutes the motherland. He emphasized that praising one's soil constitutes an integral part of a Muslim's faith, seeking to bridge perceived divides between national and religious identities.
Muddin portrayed ordinary Muslims as hardworking individuals focused on earning their livelihood and raising families peacefully. He alleged that clerics like Madani were attempting to mislead these community members and push them toward unrest rather than progress.
The MRM leader concluded with an appeal to intellectual Muslims to remain alert against separatist-minded clerics and oppose them openly to ensure the community's continued development and integration.
Parallel Protests in Bhopal
Meanwhile, in a related development in Bhopal, right-wing organizations including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged protests against Madani's statements. Demonstrators gathered at Roshanpura Square where they burned an effigy of the JUH president, accusing him of speaking negatively about the country and the Supreme Court.
This incident highlights the polarized reactions to discussions about minority safety and constitutional rights in contemporary India, with different organizations presenting contrasting perspectives on the ground reality for Muslim citizens.
