NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
In a significant exercise aimed at establishing communal harmony post-Gujarat, Sangh Parivar and Muslim leaders are meeting in New Delhi on Monday "to understand each other's perspectives".
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh joint general secretary in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Party affairs, Madan Das Devi, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders Giriraj Kishore, Praveen Togadia and Surendra Jain are among those likely to attend the meeting, Sangh sources said.
The meeting, at the initiative of the National Commission for Minorities, would be the first of its kind between the two communities at the national level, particularly after the Gujarat violence.
While some "hardline" Muslim leaders have declined to talk to Sangh Parivar outfits on the ground that they were involved in the Gujarat riots, moderate leaders, including theologian Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, are likely to participate in the meeting, NCM sources said.
"The idea is to make them sit across the table and at least get them talking on their point of view on various issues, if not thrash out the differences," said an NCM official.
At the meeting, Muslim leaders are expected to oppose the VHP's decision not to abide by the court verdict on the Ayodhya issue and the Sangh Parivar leaders are likely to urge the minority community to forsake their claim over the disputed shrines of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura "to facilitate long-term fraternal ties".
Earlier, the NCM had organised similar meetings between the Sangh Parivar and Christian leaders in the wake of several attacks on churches and Christian clergy across the country.
"We are not expecting any major breakthrough but it will at least pave the way for fruitful future interactions," the NCM official said.
Tell us what you think of this report
