Concern over targeting of minorities in India, Bangladesh

Seminar speakers emphasize protection of minorities in India and Bangladesh to strengthen secularism and oppose theocratic states globally.

Speakers at a seminar organised by the Keluettan Centre for Study and Research here on Tuesday (December 17) expressed their concerns over the targeting of minority communities in India and Bangladesh.

Giving the opening remarks, P. Mohanan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]  Kozhikode district secretary, pointed out that the protection of minorities was essential for strengthening secularism. “Protection of the minorities should not be viewed as appeasement,” he said. Mr. Mohanan alleged that the targeting of the minorities in Bangladesh was happening with the support of the Jamaat-e-Islami there. However, he expressed hope that the secular fabric of that country would help survive the crisis. “Like how the Sangh Parivar forces were weakened after the Lok Sabha polls due to the consolidation of secular forces in India, students and the youth of Bangladesh, who are the torchbearers of secularism there, will help the country survive the current phase,” he said. Mr. Mohanan also said that it was not possible to defeat the Sangh Parivar by aligning with those who believe in a theocratic state.

P. Fazal Gafoor, president of the Muslim Education Society, said that the concept of a theocratic state should be opposed anywhere in the world. He said that the minorities would not be safe in such places. “There are very few Islamic countries across the globe now. But after watching the developments in Syria and Bangladesh, don’t be surprised if the number goes up. We don’t know if communal riots will happen in Bangladesh in the coming days. If someone declares the establishment of an Islamic State there, it will have repercussions here as well,” Mr. Gafoor said.

N. Ali Abdulla, secretary, Kerala Muslim Jamaat, and A.M. Shinas, academic, and K.T. Kunhikannan, director of the Keluettan Centre for Study and Research, were present.