India Muslims Decry Communal Divisions
"The community that could fight against the British who believed sun never sets in their empire, will not cow down in fear of something that small groups are trying to create within the country," Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani said, Times of India reported on Sunday, 17 May.
Madani was speaking at the outfit’s 32nd general session held at Ramlila Maidan.
He added that hundreds of thousands of Muslims are Indians "by choice and not by chance".
The Muslim leader, whose words were met by huge applause, said there was a choice before Muslims to shift to Pakistan, but most of them stayed back and fought for the country's independence.
Nevertheless, he decried communal elements, both in government and outside, have carried out campaigns as if "our religion, culture, constitution and identity, nothing is safe".
Despite rising anti-Muslim campaigns and attacks across the country, Madani accused the government of maintaining "studied silence".
"It puts a question mark on the credibility of its popular slogan 'sabka saath sabka vikas'. We want the government to respond in action and not in words," Madani said.
He added that for the next 20 years each member of the community must ensure that no child is deprived of education and training.
