Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Expressing concern over the constitutional crisis in the country, top intellectuals, former diplomats, and human rights activists vowed to preserve the idea of India at all costs.
They were speaking at a symposium titled ‘Preserving Idea of India’ organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi on Sunday.
All the speakers unanimously emphasized the need to nurture ‘Bharat Bhavna’.
Engineer Mohammad Salim, National Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islamic Hind, said that the country’s identity and its core spirit are being harmed by misusing the constitutional institutions, curbing freedom of expression, and attacking the democratic structure.
In his keynote address, Prof. Muchkund Dubey said: “India has witnessed hatred for the first time, whose effect is visible in the society. Earlier, this used to happen in a particular region but the game of spreading hatred at the organized and national level is being seen for the first time.”
Prof. Dubey expressed concern over the restrictions on religious freedom. He said it is necessary to protect the ‘spirit of India’. “There is no hope from the government now. There is no hope from the opposition either. Opposition parties are working against the spirit of India. The opposition of the country is also behaving like the ruling party,” he said.
Former member of NITI Aayog Syeda Hameed said efforts are being made to change the culture of the country. “In this way, all of us together should try to protect the constitution.
Former Professor of IIT Mumbai Prof. Ram Puniyani threw light on social harmony. “Historical event is used to promote hatred by a particular class. If it is tested based on logic, science, and history, then most of the cases will prove to be baseless. Even if there is truth in any incident, it will not be related to religion but to politics and state expansion,” he said.
Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj, President of the Indian Sarva Dharma Samvad and Dharmik Jan Morcha, said unity among different communities in the country will take this country much further.
Prof. Apoorvanand, Department of Hindi, University of Delhi, said there are attacks on Muslims. “Mosques are being attacked collectively in an organized way and all this is done by Hindu extremist organizations. There is a need to save the spirit of India. Its source lies in the Constitution of India.”
He said Muslims are feeling insecure in this country. Most Hindus still do not know what is going on in the hearts of the Muslims of the country.
National President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Syed Sadatullah Husaini, in his presidential address, said it was necessary to understand and preserve the Idea of India. “Not only Muslims but the entire social setup will crumble if the idea of India is harmed. One should not live under the misconception that he will remain untouched. If not today, tomorrow everyone will be affected,” he said.
