Indian NSA (National Security Advisor) Ajit Doval, in a conference, said that India and Indonesia needed to work together to develop common narratives on de-radicalization. The event, which was held at India Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi on 29th November addressed the role of Ulema in fostering a culture of interfaith peace and social harmony. The conference was attended by a high-level Ulema delegation from Indonesia along with the Dr Mohammed Mahfud M.D., the coordinating minister for the Political, Legal, and Security Affairs of Indonesia.
Speaking at the conference, the Indonesian minister said that the purpose of this visit was to provide an opportunity for ulema from India and Indonesia, as well as representatives of other faiths in India, to discuss how religious leaders could help foster culture of peace and social harmony in an interfaith society. He added, “Many times we have witnessed people who use their religion as a doctrine of absolute truth and readily blame others. We have to go out of this and improve. Religion, I think, should be a source of peace, not reason for discord, conflict, or violence.”
The conference saw ulema from India and Indonesia participate in three closed sessions on the themes ‘Islam: Continuity and change’, ‘Harmonising interfaith society’ and ‘Countering radicalisation and extremism in India and Indonesia’.
The Indian NSA pointed the need to counter disinformation and propaganda that can impede peaceful co-existence among the followers of different faiths. He added, “Our youth should receive special attention towards this end. They are often the primary target of radicalization, but if their energies are nurtured in the right direction, they can emerge as harbingers of change and building blocks of progress in any society.”
The Indian NSA also raised concerns over cross-border and ISIS-inspired terrorism, saying both India and Indonesia had been victims of separatism and terrorism. He further said, “We have overcome the challenges to a considerable extent, the phenomenon of cross-border and ISIS inspired terrorism continues to pose a threat. Cooperation of the civil society is essential in countering the threat from ISIS inspired individual terror cells and returnees from theatres like Syria and Afghanistan.”
Dr Mohammed Mahfud appreciated Indian NSA Ajit Doval for inviting him to India with a delegation of Ulema. Speaking on how religion could help in addressing global issues, he said, “Our world is facing difficult challenges, ranging from poverty, climate change, food insecurity, pandemic, corruption, unemployment, armed conflicts, income inequality, human rights abuses, to name but a few. Where are religions when the world fights against all these common concerns? Religion must be part of global solution to address those challenges.” He further added that as a pluralistic nation, Indonesia has many differences and challenges, but has learnt that a tolerant and democratic country allows such differences and diversity to strengthen unity and that the ulema and other religious leaders in Indonesia had made significant contributions in solving social challenges.
There is no space for hate speech in a democracy: 🇮🇳NSA #AjitDoval sb. 🇮🇩Minister Mohammed Mahfud Mahmodin @mohmahfudmd said, Religion should be a“source of peace,not reason for discord, conflict or violence”,and it should be used as a unifying tool. @aiumbofficial @samirsaran pic.twitter.com/MFzRjxxzM3
— Haji Syed Salman Chishty (@sufimusafir) November 30, 2022
Indian NSA Doval said the meeting was being held at a “time of tremendous churn in international relations and uncertainty about the future”, and India and Indonesia, with their experience of multi-faith harmony, can send “a joint message to the world to eschew violence and conflict”. An Indian official said that the aim of the event was to bring together scholars of both the nations together to promote tolerance, harmony and peaceful co-operation, which would bolster the fight against violent extremism, terrorism and radicalisation.
*[With inputs from ANI (Asian News International)]
