Prominent Muslim organisations decided to express their dissatisfaction with the political situation on International Minority Rights Day on Thursday , saying the occasion had lost its meaning in face of the insecurity being created by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates.

The move, aimed at registering a protest against recent incidents of forcible religious reconversions and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s silence over anti-minority statements, came in the form of a resolution adopted at a congregation of ulamas, or scholars, in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

“The atmosphere in the country has become highly insecure for minorities in last few months, especially after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister,” Mufti Maulana Mohammad Raees Ashraf, national president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (Jadid), told Scroll.in over the phone.

Under siege

He added, “The rights of the minorities and their identity are being attacked in a planned manner by the RSS and its various outfits. Forcible conversions are being made, madrasas are being called terrorist-producing centres, mosques and our kabristans are facing constant threat and Modiji is behaving as if nothing is happening. What is the point of celebrating Minority Rights Day in such an atmosphere?”

Other organisations that participated in the congregation included the All India Tanjim-e-Ahle Sunnat, the All India Imam Masajid Association, the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board and the All India Ittehad-e-Millat Council.

International Minority Rights Day is observed on December 18 every year. It commemorates the day in 1992 that the United Nations promulgated the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. In India, as in other parts of the world, the occasion aims to promote better understanding among various communities.

“Over 500 ulamas from different parts of the country and belonging to various Muslim organisations attended the congregation and unanimously decided to boycott the Minority Rights Day this year,” said Maulana Ashraf. “The Muslim organisations also decided to form a group of 100 ulamas who will travel in different parts of the country and create awareness among people regarding minority rights and communal harmony. These ulamas will also expose the nefarious design of the RSS to divide the country on religious lines.”

Large gathering

The congregation assumes significance as it was organized on the occasion of the urs or death anniversary of the founder of Barelvi sect, Ala Hazrat Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri, at Bareilly. The urs is attended by lakhs of followers of Ala Hazrat from across the country and abroad.

Besides prominent Muslim organisations, a group of RTI activists in Uttar Pradesh also decided to boycott the Minority Rights Day, saying, “The occasion has become more of mourning than of celebration.”  Moradabad-based RTI activist Salim Baig on behalf of this group also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, explaining why they opted to protests on the occasion.

“Minority communities are not feeling secure,” the letter said. “Nor is there any guarantee of security for their places of prayer and worship. On the one hand minorities, especially Muslims, are being attacked, and on the other those in the government are making irresponsible statements. We have, therefore, decided to boycott the Minority Rights Day.”