Conference on communalism

Mumbai, Oct 28 (UNI) Religious scholars, intellectuals and politicians will come under one umbrella tomorrow at a conference that will deliberate on ways to weed out communalism from the country and also launch a sharp attack on forces which project Islam as an instrument of terror.

The conference, ''Islam and Tolerance'', is being organised by Subai Jamait Ahle-Hadees Mumbai at the Shanmukhananda Hall here and would be presided over by its founder-chief Maulana Abdul Salam Salfi, who on the eve of the event, said that Islam like other religions preaches peace.

''People and organisations with vested interests are projecting Islam as an instrument of terror,'' he said and added that it was against humanity and India. ''Such forces should be weeded out to strengthen the multi-culture, multi-religious fabric of India,'' he said and added that people should come together against ''forces'' which are creating religious divides especially among Hindus and Muslims.

Religious scholars, intellectuals, social activists and legal experts from all communities will attend the meeting.

Among those who would be present, include Union Minister of State for Labour Oscar Fernandes, Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna, Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, NCP state unit chief and former Maharashtra Speaker Arun Gujarathi, Delhi Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal, Rajya Sabha member and State Samajwadi Party chief Abu Asim Azmi, State FDA minister Baba Siddiqui, retired Justice Hosbet Suresh, journalist Aziz Barni, who is editor of Rashtriya Sahara Urdu daily, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and Maulana Asgar Imam Mehdi.

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