JOIN USIndia highlighted the peaceful Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election and almost nil recruitment of Indians in “violent Pan Islamist groups” to prove that Indian Muslims have faith in the country.
“The usual notions of minorities and their alienation are not valid in the Indian context,” the Indian delegation said during “The White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism” which was organised by US Department of State in Washington on February 19.
India’s stand at the forum came almost a month after US President Barack Obama raised concern over rising intolerance in India.
The Indian delegation, including Joint Intelligence Committee Chairman R N Ravi, told delegates from over 50 countries, that terrorism India has been fighting comes from outside the country, an euphemism for Pakistan.
The summit aimed at sharing views on countering violent extremism was attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, French Interior Minister Bernard Caseneuve and Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan among others.
Outlining the measures taken by India to address social, economic and political marginalisation of minority communities, India said the country lays special emphasis on education and economic empowerment of such groups.
A range of affirmative actions have proved “highly successful” in strengthening a sense of unity and integration, the delegation said. “The ever-alert media seldom miss an opportunity to highlight any wrong to any community. The government takes all these reports with due seriousness,” they said.
The delegation also highlighted the “higher population growth of smaller communities” as a “credible indicator of their ease and sense of stake in a happy co-existence with the rest”.
“India’s story of keeping communities integrated is unique in many ways. Although we have some 180 million Muslims, there is hardly any case of recruitment of Indian Muslims to any of the violent Pan Islamist groups,” the delegation said.
They added that recent held elections in “Muslim majority” state of Jammu and Kashmir in which over 65 per cent electorates peacefully exercised their franchise was a testimony of India’s success.