RSS calls 2002 Gujarat riots shameful

AGRA: At least three Aligarh Muslim University teachers, two of them now retired, who attended a recent meeting of RSS and Muslim intellectuals from across the country that was held in Delhi, told TOI that top Sangh functionaries said the Gujarat riots of 2002 were “shameful“ and such incidents “shouldn't happen again“.

The meeting on November 3 at the international auditorium of Pusa agriculture institute was aimed at “clarifying the deep rooted misunderstandings of the Muslim community about the Sangh.“

AMU's associate professor of theology, Mufti Zahid, who along with four other colleagues participated in the meeting that was attended by 110 intellectuals from various universities, including JNU, said, “I raised the issue of the 2002 Gujarat riots during my address and said that Muslims can never forget what all happened there. Reacting to this, RSS joint general secretary (Sah Sarkaryawah) Krishna Gopal Sharma categorically said that the episode was shameful and such incidents should not happen again.“


According to Zahid, several other issues, like triple talaq, uniform civil code, unemployment among minorities and education, were also discussed at the meeting where RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and national executive member Indresh Kumar were also present.

Former AMU dean (law faculty) Mohammad Shabbir said, “The RSS leaders assured us that there will be no discrimination against the community. They also added that a Gujarat-like incident won't ever happen again.“

Indresh Kumar told TOI: “Many other things were discussed in the meeting that lasted for over five hours. It was a meaningful discussion on various points. Many contentious issues were taken up during the meeting.“

Shahid Akhtar, national convener of RSS's Muslim Rashtriya Manch, who was also present in the meeting, told TOI, “During the meeting, Sah Sarkaryawah Krishna Gopal Sharma said that dialogues are necessary to ensure incidents like Gujarat don't happen again.“