‘Reforms among Hindus, Muslims a must for communal harmony’

Mangaluru, Jan 30: Senior journalist and media adviser to the Chief Minister Dinesh Amin Mattu has said that communal harmony can be possible only when there are reforms among Hindus and Muslims.

Speaking on the ‘Role of politicians in building a cordial society’ at a national convention organised by the Komu Souharda Vedike here on Saturday, he said that communal forces were there in all religions. Hindu communal forces had a superiority complex as they were part of a majority community while Muslim communal forces suffer from an inferiority complex.

Mr. Mattu said that while people who question Hindu communal forces continued to lead a normal life, the same was not the case with those who question Muslim communal forces. “I know several of my friends who have suffered.” Mr. Mattu said that the internal voice among Muslims questioning actions of communal forces in their community was dying. He said that he would be criticised for this statement, which was a fact.

Mr. Mattu said that people who question malicious practices among communities should receive a strong backing. Harmony among communities could be established only if there were reforms among Hindus and Muslims, he said. In an earlier session, writer Chandrashekar Patil said that communal forces should be tackled in a strategic way. Senior Congress leader A.K. Subbaiah said that the Congress had failed to combat communal forces by joining organisations that were fighting against these forces. G.N. Nagaraj of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said that people would have to made aware that by voting for Bharatiya Janata Party they were supporting communal forces.