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Rajnath meets Muslim clerics on IS luring youths

To check growing attempts by the ISIS to attract Indian Muslim youths, the government on Tuesday reached out to prominent Muslim clerics and sought their help to counter the designs of the dreaded group and also fight violence and cross-border terrorism.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advosor (NSA) Ajit Doval and senior Home Ministry officials apprised the Muslim leaders about activities of the Middle-East terrorist group and its efforts to attract Indian youths to its fold. The Home Minister sought the cooperation of the clerics, who offered all help to the government in this regard, officials said.
While the Muslim leaders offered all help to the government to counter terrorism, they raised the issue of alleged persecution of some Muslim youths in the name of terrorism.

The issues that were discussed included the misuse of social media, sources of impetus that attract persons, especially youths, to ISIS, the growth of ISIS influence in India’s neighbourhood and the best possible law enforcement response.

Condemning all kinds of violence in the name of religion, the delegation asserted that Islam stands for peace and well-being of all and no one should be misguided or have an understanding contrary to this fact.

The Muslim leaders said they were against any sort of terrorist or violent activities, including cross-border terrorism. Underlining the fact that Muslims were safe and enjoyed freedom in India, they said this kind of freedom and security is not available to the community even in Muslim majority countries.

The delegation emphasised that Indian Muslim youths have not fallen prey to any propaganda in the name of Islam and expressed satisfaction on steps taken by the NDA government for creating an atmosphere of peace and security in the mind of the minority community, a Home Ministry statement said.

Among those who attended the meeting were Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, a prominent Shia cleric, Maulana Abdul Wahid Hussain Chisti, chief of Dargah Ajmer Sharief, Niaz Faruqui, General Secretary, Jamait-Ul-Hind, Maulana Iqbal Ahmed Chisti, General Secretary, Maulana Wamiq Rafiq Warsi Sahab, Head, Dargah Dewa Sharief, Janab Mohibulla Nadvi, Chief Imam, Parliament Masjid, Maulana Mohammad Alim Nadvi, Haryana Imams Organisation, Yamuna Nagar, and MJ Khan, National Convener, Muslim Economic Forum. 

Chief Imam, All India Imam Organisation, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi told reporters after the meeting that the government has asked them to address the issue and appeal to the youth through mosques to stay away from ISIS.

“This is part of a series of meetings to be held soon. We have raised various issues concerning Muslims, including radicalisation attempts by ISIS and persecution of Muslim youths by security agencies,” he said.

Chairman of Confederation of Minorities Educational Institutions, Kamal Faruqui said the issue of youths getting attracted to ISIS was a serious concern.

“The government has reached out to us and we appreciate it. We have also shared our concerns to the government,” Faruqui added.

The need for appropriate welfare schemes for minorities, social media strategies to be followed, especially in the area of information technology, was also discussed threadbare.

In his remarks, the Home Minister said India’s traditions and family values will overcome such nefarious designs of terrorist groups and that while the traction that ISIS has got in India is extremely limited, and almost insignificant in comparison to other countries, there is a need to keep up vigil on all fronts, and not let down the guard in any manner.

This was for the first time that the Home Minister had a meeting with Muslim clerics on the issue of ISIS. 

On Monday night, the Home Minister had a meeting with top officials of central intelligence and investigative agencies and police of 13 states and discussed steps to check the growing influence of ISIS among youngsters through social media and other sources.
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