New Delhi: Religious leaders, including the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council (AISSC), on Saturday, July 31 proposed a resolution advocating a ban on organisations like Popular Front of India (PFI) for pursuing a “divisive agenda” and indulging in “anti-national activities.”
The AISSC said, “Organisations like PFI and any other such fronts, who have been indulging in anti-national activities, pursuing a divisive agenda and creating discord amongst our citizens must be banned and action initiated against them as per the law of the land.”
The Sufi body made these comments at an interfaith conference organised in New Delhi.
It also urged people to condemn any acts targeting any god, goddesses or prophets in discussions or debates by anyone.
According to India Today, AISSC chief Syed Naseeruddin Chishti said, “We want to give the message that all religious leaders have a responsibility to guide their community, and especially the youth, to aspire to be responsible citizens of India.”
“It is observed that social media platforms are being used for promoting hatred against religions and their followers. We request the Govt to take serious note and initiate appropriate measures to curb the menace,” he added.
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National security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, who was also present at the conference, urged leaders of various faiths to counter the radical forces trying to create animosity in the name of religion and ideology that adversely affects the country and has international ramifications.
“Some people try to create animosity in the name of religion that adversely affects the entire country and also has ramifications internationally,” he said.
“We cannot be a mute spectator to this. To counter religious animosity, we have to work together and make every religious body feel part of India. In this, we sail and sink together,” Doval said at the conference held against the backdrop of a number of incidents of religious discord in the country.
The aim of the conference was to have a rigorous discussion among the representatives of different faiths including Hindu, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jain on “rising religious intolerance,” the organisers told PTI.
A resolution was proposed to create a new body, inclusive of all faiths, to spread the message of peace and harmony and fight against the radical forces.
(With PTI inputs)