A national seminar on “How to Face the Challenges of Communal Politics in India – Today” was organised jointly by Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity (FDCA) and Istaqlal, an Urdu fortnightly, at Iran Society, Kolkata on 6 December. (The first such national seminar on ‘Democracy and its Importance for Minorities’ was organised by Istaqlal alone on 2 August, 2015 at the same venue.) The day also marked the 23rd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, in Faizabad District, Uttar Pradesh.
Inaugurating the programme, the Vice-President of the Iran Society, Dr. Mansoor Alam offered flower bouquets to the distinguished guests and eminent speakers seated on the dais, through the hands of Salman Akhtar, Nasir Ahmad, Manzar Hassan, Jameel Anjum and Shusantu Roy. In his short inaugural speech he expressed his concern over the fast growing aggressive communalism in different parts of the country.
The most prominent and outstanding speaker was Teesta Setalvad, a renowned social activist in the country. She, despite her pressing engagements, graced the occasion not only by her august presence but also by delivering a very impressive, meaningful and informative speech. The audience lent their ears to her short but meaningful speech with much enthusiasm, rapt attention as well as admiration.
This seminar was also addressed by journalist and former MP Ahmad Sayeed Malehabadi, Lawyer and Activist Bharti Musaddy, Qari Fazlur Rahman, Dr. Abdul Hayee, Patron of the Rabeta Committee, Patna, Activist Jagmohan Gill, Ratan Khushnawish, General Secretary of the West Bengal Unit of FDCA.
While addressing the seminar, Teesta Setalvad spoke at length, boldly and freely. She did not mince her words nor did she project any sign of oscillation in calling a spade a spade in a straightforward manner. She delivered a scintillating speech and very categorically said that though the BJP government at the Centre is only 18 months old, it has successfully saffronised the entire government machinery as well as the constitutional institutions to the level of its entire satisfaction. She further added that the assassins of the Father of the Nation, M.K. Gandhi and three rationalists, the latest victim being M.M. Kalburgi, have been affiliates of the ideology and philosophy of RSS.
While referring to the recent comments with ‘communal’ tinge by BJP MPs, MLAs, a Minister and even a Governor, she said that “the fringe is the new mainstream in the BJP government. They occupy significant position in the constitutional and government institutions of the country.” She went on saying that “In Hyderabad a BJP MLA said that he was willing to murder anybody who organised beef festival. Minister of State for Home (Kiran Rijuju) released distorted figures to prove that instances of clashes and killing had halved ever since the BJP came to power in 2014. The Governor of Tripura, a ‘pracharak’, who holds such a high constitutional post, is speaking the language of RSS.”
In March, 2015 Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy had tweeted that most people who had assembled at 1993 Bombay blast accused Yakub Memon’s funeral were “potential terrorists”.
“The views of the three rationalists Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar and MM Kalburgi hurt the ideology of the RSS just like the views of Mahatma Gandhi. The police enquiry into the three murders is yet to be over but the government has already said in the Parliament that there is no connection between the three murders. This nervousness betrays their fear,” commented Setalvad. She proved to be very vocal in remarking that India is a Secular State and will ever remain so; no power on earth can alter and tarnish this image and spirit of secularism. She, adopting a challenging tone and hitting the Central Government and communally laced RSS, said that ‘this country can never become a Hindu State’. She further pointed out in her solid voice, stressing her every word that the role played by the communal organisations and powers such as Hindu Mahasabha and RSS in the division of the country had been far greater and decisive than that of the Muslim League.
While attacking the BJP and other communal parties/organisations, Setalvad projected her utmost boldness in commenting that ‘the people, whose role in and contribution to the country’s development and the freedom struggle has been ‘zero’, have no right at all to think and speak of the country herself’.
Dr. Abdul Hayee, Patron of Bihar Rabta Committee, Patna, while delivering his speech, expressed his view that the results of the Assembly elections recently held in Bihar, have once for ever proved that when secular-minded and peace-loving people stand united, communal powers would have to lick the dust of defeat everywhere. He also pointed out that Muslims in Katihar (in Bihar) rejected even the communal-minded Muslim candidates who had sought for votes.
Dr. Hayee continued that the Prime Minister, for the sake of winning elections in only one state, could go so far as to address 35 meetings within a few days only. He further added that today the whole BJP team is at ‘daggers drawn-relationship’ and conflict with a single but bold woman who possesses but a burning and enlivened conscience and her name is Teesta Setalvad.
The seminar was also addressed by noted journalist and former M.P. Ahmad Sayeed Malihabadi. He openly said that if the present communal parties and organisations are not fought back tooth and nail, the situation can resemble the picture that got surfaced in the country in 1947. He further stressed his point that this country is not threatened by organisations like IS, but is certainly to be affected by the communal-minded persons who have been occupying prominent positions at the Centre and poisoning the atmosphere with their words and acts. He also sadly expressed that even a minister of as high a rank as the Home Minister has begun to raise finger upon the word ‘Secular’. In the course of his speech, he also mentioned the State of West Bengal which has ever been fighting communalism. He specifically mentioned the names of Maulana Azad, C.R. Das and Netaji Bose who, along with other hundreds of crusaders, had waged a war against hatred, animosity and communalism, during the freedom struggle movement.
Malihabadi further added that a greater segment of the population of India is wholly secular-minded. And, this is evident with how secular forces have defeated the ulterior designs of the communal elements first in Delhi and then in Bihar. The results of the Panchayat elections recently held in Gujarat proved quite shocking to the BJP as the general mass in the rural areas outright rejected the said communal party and cast their votes in favour of the secular-minded non-BJP candidates. As such, the peace-loving people of the above mentioned three places have proved that the country belongs to those who value ‘secularism’ most, and in no case will allow the anti-secular elements to accomplish their nefarious designs, Malihabadi asserted this while concluding his speech.
The seminar was also addressed by Qari Fazlur Rahman, who spoke of the dirty games being played by the communal elements in the society as well as the members of the government at the centre.
Lawyer and Activist Bharti Musaddy, in her speech, highlighted the atmosphere being vitiated by the communal members of BJP and RSS. She stressed the point that the people of Bengal have ever displayed, by words and acts, their deep-rooted love for secularism.
Social Activist Jagmohan Gill pointed out, besides other things, that a mosque situated at a place in the Punjab is maintained and looked after by Sikhs and, similarly, a gurudwara located in Pakistan is looked after by Muslim brethren. We have always been with the secular forces in the country, he stated.
In his presidential address, Ratan Khushnawis spoke at length. He remarked with his solid voice that India has ever remained a land where flowers of secularism have remained blooming since long. The democratic and secular principles and traditions have always been followed and practised here. He also said that communalism could never get itself rooted in Bengal. Khushnawis went on saying that the seed of communalism was sowed in Bengal by the British and the plant that grew out of it is being meticulously nursed by RSS and its affiliated organisations. But the democratic and secular-minded people here have always rejected the ideology and philosophy of the communal forces by thwarting their ulterior motives, asserted Khushnawis.
In his speech, Shusantu Roy, Jt. Secretary of FDCA, after thanking the audience, offered his heart-felt thanks to the Social Activist, Seetal Setalvad. Roy expressed his pleasure in stating that Setalvad, accepting the Forum’s invitation, came over here, undertaking an arduous long journey. This is an exemplary devotion and love for the country and the people that she projected by gracing the seminar with her presence. Roy further said that Kolkata has always been the cradle of National Integration and people following different faiths have all along been living here with the spirit of fraternity and love. Highlighting the objectives behind forming FDCA, he went on saying that after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the atmosphere was much communalised and vitiated in the country. And, it was thought necessary to nip the virus of communalism in the bud. Keeping this in view, some intelligentsia and patriots founded this Forum in 1993. It is a composite unit formed of members belonging to Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain, and Bodh communities, Shusantu Roy concluded.
Prof. (Dr.) Mansoor Alam conducted the seminar tactfully, introducing the eminent Guests and Speakers with his sweet and captivating language. He kept the audience fully enchanted with his recitation of some couplets in English, Persian and Urdu during the course of his compering.
Salman Akhtar, Editor of Istaqlal, also delivered a short but meaningful speech. He commended Teesta Setalvad with the core of his heart by reciting some Urdu couplets and, in particular, the couplet “Maqtal Ki Seyasat Na Tumhari Na Hamari / Tafreeq Karogey Toh Koi Ser Na Bachega” (Gory politics is (suitable) neither for you nor for us. If divisive policy is acted upon, no head will remain safe) which mirrored the theme of her speech.
Nasir Ahmad, Treasurer of FDCA as well as the owner of Istaqlal, thanked the eminent speakers, guests, and the audience. He also, in his thanksgiving speech, sketched the danger of communalism that is likely to engulf the whole society if not crushed in a justified and reasonable way immediately.
From among the distinguished audience, mention can be made especially of Maulana Neymat Hussain Habibi, President of Milli Parishad, Kolkata; Abdul Aziz, Secretary, Milli Parishad as well as All India Majlesh-e Mushawarat, Dr. Fuad Halim; Ishrat Hashmi, Secretary, Beniapukur High Madersa (HS), Kolkata; Nezam Shamim, former IPS; Md. Nizamuddin, former MLA; and MS Qais, etc.