The Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, organized a two-day National Seminar on “Communal Violence, persecutions and Social Exclusion of Muslims and Christians in India” was inaugurated today at central library auditorium by AP State Minorities Commission Chairman Abid Rasool Khan.
In his speech, Abid Rasool Khan said that there has a continuous process of victimization of Christians and even some of the churches were not allowed to function by some forces. Further, he said that the there is certainly discrimination against minorities. He opined that communalism has become prominent and pertinent issue in the country. “We need to constitute a front between the Muslims and Christians by creating awareness among these two communities,” he said.
Professor Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor NALSAR in his keynote address said, there is an urgent need of Muslim and Christian Scholars bring them together for an intellectual debate. He highlighted about three important issues. They are exclusion, persecution and communalism. He threw light on the amount of security of minorities. He felt that after the post Sachaar, the status of Muslims in education is less than those of SCs. He said that Muslims are the worst sufferers of persecution and communalism. He characterized the communalism is a dangerous disease which led to Gujarat genocide. He welcomed the initiative of inter-community dialogue.
Dr. Joseph De Souza, President, Dalit Freedom Network, in his key note address said Muslim-Christian intellectual alliance is need of the hour. He said that there are common words like God, Praise and Love in both the religions. He said that there are common words in Islam and Christianity. Therefore an alliance between them is needed otherwise peace is not going to be established in India. He said that communities need to come together to fight for justice. Dr. Khwaja M. Shahid, Pro Vice-Chancellor in his presidential remarks said that there are horrifying forces exited in India and we need to establish peace and harmony. He suggested along with the Democracy and democratic principles we need to promote secularism.
Prof. Kancha Illaiah, Director of the Centre and Seminar said that Dalits are becoming Christians in South India. He distinguished the central difference between the Hinduism and Islam, Christianity is idol worship. Both Islam and Christianity have high scope for social unifying features whereas in Hinduism there are social disintegrating features. The purpose of the seminar is to engage the intellectual debate between these two communities. (INN)