Srinagar: Senior religious leaders of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) – the amalgam of all Muslim religious organisations of Jammu Kashmir, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq it’s patron , Mufti Nasirul Islam, Rahmatullah ……..( names )express serious concern over the recent directive issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s Department of Culture instructing schools across the region to commemorate the 150th year of Vande Mataram through organized musical and cultural programs ensuring participation of all students and staff.
While Muslims are urged to deeply love and serve their homeland, that devotion should be expressed through service ,compassion, and contribution to society — not through acts conflicting with faith.Forcing Muslim students or institutions to participate in activities that conflict with their faith is both unjust and unacceptable .
MMU feels that this directive appears to be a deliberate attempt to impose a Hindutva driven ideology on a Muslim-majority region under the guise of cultural celebration, rather than promoting genuine unity and respect for diversity. It has caused a lot of anguish among the Muslims of the region who are reaching out to the religious leadership through to take up this of serious concern .
MMU urges the administration both led by the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister , to immediately withdraw this coercive directive , the cause of anguish to all Muslims and ensure that no students or institution is compelled to act against their religious beliefs. Failing which MMU will have to convene a meeting of all religious leadership across the state to deliberate on how to tackle this serious issue.
