Madarsa board chief draws flak on cultural nationalism

With the ‘‘blessings’’ of the RSS, the Rajasthan Madarsa Board chief is organising an all-India conclave in Jaipur on Sa...

With the ‘‘blessings’’ of the RSS, the Rajasthan Madarsa Board chief is organising an all-India conclave in Jaipur on Saturday to teach Muslims the tenets of ‘‘cultural nationalism’’.

While Board chairman M.A. Ansari is gung-ho about the two-day event, Islamic organisations are up in arms calling the conclave an attempt by the RSS to saffronise their institutions with help from their puppets.

Top RSS functionaries, including K. Sudershan, and ‘‘Muslim intellectuals’’ are expected to address the gathering. The event is being touted as an attempt to stir an all-India movement of ‘‘nationalistic’’ Muslims.

Story continues below this ad

Ansari said the agenda is simple: Hindu-Muslim unity. ‘‘We want Muslims to give up their current mindset and understand the realities of a multicultural India.’’

And his catchphrase? ‘‘Agar Bharatiya hain to wafadaar to hona hi padega (If we are Indians, we have to be loyal).’’ While his critics are not too concerned about these shibboleths, two other points on the agenda have ignited their fury: Vande Mataram and cows. In an invitation circulated throughout India, the organisers have expressed their desire to ensure Vande Mataram echoes throughout the country; and that cows are protected zealously.

Mohammed Qayoom Akhtar, secretary of the Milli Council, said the organisers of the event want to force the RSS agenda on them. ‘‘They have hijacked the Madrassa Board to meddle with our beliefs,’’ he said.

‘‘This is just a facade. The entire machinery of the Board is being misused for the event. Even the madarsa teachers have been forced to participate,’’ Milli Council member Shaukat Qureshi said.