The Meeting between Mohan Bhagwat and Muslim Intellectuals Shows Mutual Concern and Understanding Over Sensitive Issues

Talks to Find Out Solutions Should Go On Main Points: 1. Muslim Intellectuals met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to discuss sensitive issues 2. Former Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Qureshi termed the talks very fruitful. 3. Cow slaughter, hijab, communal tension was discussed in the meeting. Bhagwat said that Hindus feel insulted when Muslims call them kafir. Kafir has become a term of abuse. 4. More talks with more members of both the communities should be held. ------ By New Age Islam Staff Writer 22 September 2022 Mohan Bhagwat ---- According to media reports, a group of Muslim Intellectuals had met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on August 22, 2022, to discuss some sensitive issues concerning both the Hindu and Muslim communities. The former Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Qureshi, former Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Zamiruddin Shah, former LG of Delhi Najeeb Jung and the editor of Nai Duniya were among the delegates. The meeting was an important event as it was held with a view to find out a solution of the growing communal tensions between the two major religious communities of the country. The issues that were discussed were reportedly hijab, cow slaughter, the use of the term Kafir for general Hindus and the term jihadi for general Muslims and other burning issues concerning the country. According to Mr S.Y. Qureshi, the talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere and both the sides expressed their views openly so that solutions could be found out and misconceptions and misunderstanding could be removed. Mr Qureshi told a TV channel that he had sent the proposal to Mr Bhagwat on behalf of his team for a meeting amid growing communal tensions and he had accepted the proposal. Initially the meeting was scheduled for 30 minutes but it went on for more than one hour. Mr Qureshi said that Mohan Bhagwat raised two issues on behalf of the Hindu community which to him was the cause of concern for them. One was cow slaughter and the other was the use of the term Kafir for general Hindus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: India Should Heed Mohan Bhagwat’s Pluralistic Call That Echoes the Sentiments of All Abrahamic Religions and Other Faiths --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr Qureshi said that cow slaughter was already banned in the most part of the country and Muslims respect the religious feelings of their Hindu brethren. He assured him that if further steps are taken in this direction, they will abide by them. On the issue of the use of the word Kafir for Indian Hindus, Mr Qureshi argued that the word Kafir was not specific for Hindus. It was actually used by the Quran for those who did not believe. Those who were believers were called Momin. Therefore, it was not a derogatory term for Hindus. In his turn Mr Qureshi raised the issue of the term jihadi and Pakistani used for general Muslims by extremist Hindus to stereotype Indian Muslims and Mr Bhagwat reportedly disapproved of this mind-set and wanted an end to it for restoring communal harmony and peace in the country. There were other issues as well that were discussed in a cordial atmosphere. Mr Bhagwat listened to the Muslim delegates very patiently and appealed to all to work for the common cause of bringing normalcy in the country. It should be recalled that Mohan Bhagwat had on June 3, 2022 said to the Hindus that they should not look for a Shivling in every mosque in the country. It was a very strong statement, according to Mr Qureshi. The statement had come at a time when the claim of the presence of Shivling had been made by a group of Hindus and the Muslims had formed the impression that the RSS was behind the move. Therefore, the statement by Mr Bhagwat was surprising to the Muslims as well as to the Hindutva brigade as they had expected him to defend their move. Mr Bhagwat had reportedly said: "Gyanvapi matter is going on. We can't change history, neither today's Hindus, nor today's Muslims created it. It happened at that time. Islam came from outside via attackers...(After Ayodhya ) it was also made clear that the organisation (RSS) would not be a part of any more new movements. There is no need to raise fresh disputes every day --We should find out a path through mutual agreement." These statements point to a positive step on the part of the RSS and so it can be surmised that new movements surrounding temples do not have the backing of the RSS as construed by the general Muslims but by 'fringe elements' which are out to vitiate the atmosphere for limited political gains. We should also recall Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scathing attack on the so-called cow vigilantes in July 2017. After a Muslim man was beaten to death in Jharkhand for allegedly carrying beef in his vehicle, he had said that killing people in the name of protecting cows was unacceptable. He had condemned a rise in deadly attacks on cattle traders and farmers. Therefore, from the gesture shown by the responsible figures of the RSS and the BJP may be interpreted as a disapproval of communal movements and programmes in the name of promoting Hindutva. Mr Bhagwat's statements make it clear that not everything done in the name of Hindutva has the sanction of the RSS. He has made it clear that the organisation does not have the plan for any new movements based on religious disputes. Therefore, statements of some Hindutva section on Qutub Minar, Aligarh Muslim University, and Taj Mahal and even on Gyanvapi mosque are the statements of 'fringe elements' not a part of the programme of the RSS. It provides the Muslims with an opportunity. The Muslims should stop attributing every communal move against Muslims by Hindutva forces of the country to the RSS. The organisation cannot control all the different ideologies and extremist groups active against Muslims in the country and so instead of blaming the RSS for every mischief against Muslims, they should establish communication with it and take the dialogue forward and rope in more people from both the sides so that the air of mistrust and mis conception can be cleared and both the communities move ahead together for the welfare of the country. URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/bhagwat-muslim-intellectuals-sensitive-issues/d/128005 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism