Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said linking terrorism with any particular religion would only help terror forces to succeed in their motives as they use "division and confrontation in the society as their weapon".
Noting that "evil groups" like ISIS neither has relation with any religion nor do they have any ideology, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs said, "These forces want to establish their evil empire by killing human values."
He called terrorism and radicalism as the "biggest threat" to the entire world.
"After recent terror incidents and arrests, it is clear that ISIS and other terrorist groups want to harm India, they want to disturb atmosphere of peace, harmony and prosperity. These forces are enemies of both the humanity and Islam."
He said these terror groups have been using religion as their shield and "we have to be alert against their activities".
"If we will link terrorism with any particular religion, then the terror forces will succeed in their motives, because such elements use division and confrontation in the society as their weapon," he added.
Naqvi was speaking after inauguration of N A Global Law School campus and convocation ceremony of 12th batch here.
Naqvi asked educational institutes to impart education about principles of all religions that oppose terrorism, bloodshed and violence as terrorist elements are engaged in a campaign to misguide the people by misusing religion.
He said "due to the strength of India's unity, harmony and brotherhood, ISIS and other terror outfits have failed in their nefarious designs, but we still have to be alert..."
Stressing the need for a nation-wide awareness campaign against such forces, the Minister said governments, security and intelligence agencies, religious leaders, educational institutes, intellectual people and media will have to become part of this campaign.
(REOPENS DES36)
"Inclusive growth of Muslim community is our
(government's) target and no negative agenda will succeed in the path of achieving this target," he said, adding that protection and development of waqf properties is an "important" step in this direction.
The Minister noted that notwithstanding new Waqf Act, several states have not been able to utilise waqf properties for socio-economic-educational empowerment of Muslim community.
"Several waqf properties have been encroached by 'waqf mafia'. There is a need for a campaign on war-footing in this regard," he said.
Naqvi said Centre has instructed waqf boards that there should be a computerised record of all waqf properties and that there should be a system through which anybody can get information about these properties.
"Several states have been working well in this regard but several state waqf boards are not serious about online registration of waqf properties," he noted.
The Minister said new Waqf Act, 2013 has been "improved" but there is scope for further improvement.
"We will take steps towards improving Waqf Acts after taking suggestions from states, common people, educational institutes and religious organisations," he said.
The Minister said with the new Waqf Act, responsibility of Central Waqf Council (CWC) and state Waqf Boards has "increased" and exuded confidence that CWC will work towards connecting waqf properties with development of Muslim community.
