Stop connecting terrorism to Islam: Shiela Dikshit

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) Stating that India has a composite culture where people have lived in harmony for ages, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today asserted it was high time they stopped connecting terrorism to one particular religion, especially Islam.

''We have a composite culture, we have lived together. We have had differences and fought because of political reasons. If we have to survive we will have to change, we will have to rethink and stop connecting terrorism to one particular religion that is Islam,'' Ms Dikshit said here at the launch of the official website of Jama Masjid United Forum (JMUF), www.jmuf.org., an NGO set to identify and ameliorate the root causes that spur terrorism.

''Thousands like Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi can be fought against if we all come together,'' the Chief Minister added.

''Delhi is mini India where all the cultures and religions are in sync with each other making it city's USP, if the drive to change the opinion on terrorism begins from the city it will be a sure defeat for many like Modi who have been propogating the thought that all terrorists are Muslim,'' she said.

Also present on the occasion was Haroon Yusuf, Power Minister in Delhi Government, echoed the same thought and said, '' The need of the hour is to change this sterotype opinion about Muslims. Why is it considered that all the underworld dons and terrorist are Muslims or that the community is propogating terrorism in the name of Islam.'' ''Muslims have been targeted by organisations like the RSS, VHP, BJP and Shiv Sena for their personal political benefits. The anti-Muslim CD released by the BJP in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections is a proof to that,'' the minister said.

JMUF president Syed Yahya Bukhari, who was also present on the launch, said, ''We want to recapture the lost glory of Islam. We want to tell the world what Islam says on terrorism. Islam is all about respecting each other, embracing each other and that's what we want to tell everyone.'' ''Our fight is not against terrorism only but against poverty and illiteracy also. We want to lay focus on primary health as well and for that we will be opening dispensaries where a free ECG and X Ray facilities will be provided,'' Mr Bukhari added.

The NGO will hold a seminar on May 26 in the national capital to dispel myths about Islam, he revealed.

In line with the suggestions that will be made in the May 26 conference, JMUF will have an International Congress in Delhi in October this year, the NGO president added.

UNI