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Gyan Vapi Masjid |
The top leaders of the organization held talks with several leading Muslim intellectuals on the issue of Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Hindu ideological organization RSS. The meeting was held in Delhi on January 14. In the talks, RSS representatives have also raised the question of handing over the land of Gyan Vapi Masjid in Banaras and Eidgah in Mathura to Hindus.
This was the second meeting of its kind between RSS and Muslim intellectuals. This conversation took place at the residence of the former Lt. Governor of Delhi, Najibjung. Apart from Najeeb Jung, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi, journalist Shahid Siddiqui and businessman Saeed Sherwani participated in it on behalf of Muslims. Apart from them, this time the representatives of leading religious organizations of the country also participated in this meeting.
Shahid Siddiqui said while talking to BBC, "I want to make one thing clear that we are not the leaders of the nation and nation." We spoke to RSS leaders of major religious organizations and all faiths a day before the meeting. Their representatives were included in the meeting so that their views and ideas could reach the RSS.
On behalf of RSS, Indresh Kumar, Ram Lal and Krishna Gopal participated in the discussion. This was the second such meeting. The first meeting was held on August 22 last year in which RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat attended. The aim of these meetings is to bridge the widening gap between Hindus and Muslims and to find common ground between the two communities on which there is no disagreement between the two communities.
In the conversation on January 14, the anti-Muslim statements made by the leaders of Hindu sadhus' organization Dharam Sansad, mob violence, the politics of bulldozing Muslim houses and religious discrimination were discussed for about three hours. In the talks, the RSS representatives also raised the issue of resolving the dispute over the controversial Gyan Vapi Mosque in Banaras and the Eid Gah in Mathura, i.e. handing over the land of these places of worship to the Hindus.
Confirming this, journalist Shahid Siddiqui told the BBC that it was discussed for a few minutes in the nearly three-hour negotiation, "We said that these matters are in the court." This will be decided by the court. There is no question of talking about it. Even if someone agrees to it, what is the guarantee that three, then thirty and then three thousand more mosques will not be requested after that? He remained silent on this. There was no more talk than that.
RSS representatives mentioned the steps taken by the BJP government to give equal rights to Muslim women. Aspects like attracting Muslim girls towards education through various schemes and not discriminating against anyone in other welfare schemes were also mentioned.
Shahid Siddiqui said, "There was a lot of talk about the controversial and hateful statements of Dharam Sansad." On this, the representatives of RSS said that this does not happen from here, so we said that you should condemn it, you should say that it is wrong.
It has been decided to continue and expand this series of dialogues between RSS and Muslim intellectuals to remove misunderstandings and gaps. Shahid Siddiqui said, "Right now, all the doors and windows are closed." As the conversation continues, slowly the doors will open. Right now we are just trying to open a window.
These talks took place at a time when the politics of hate dominates the country. The Muslim minority is going through a period of intense pressure and helplessness.
Zakia Soman, a Muslim women's rights activist and leading intellectual, while talking to the BBC, said that "Muslims in India were not ready to face the current situation. There is a lack of awareness among Muslims about constitutional rights, familiarity with democratic principles, education, equal rights for girls and democratic challenges in a democratic society. A democratic movement of Muslim students was started from Jamia Millia against the citizenship law, but it could not go far.
Zakia Soman talks to RSS about dialogue, saying it is a good thing, 'There should be dialogue. Communication is the only way to clear misunderstandings. But for this there should be seriousness on both sides. It cannot be that the dialogue continues and the hateful statements of the Dharma Sansad continue. Monsters of hatred are rising everywhere. Where are they getting the money from? The government will first have to rein in the politics of hatred.
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