10-03-2006, 04:14 PM
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http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=74593
<b>'Blame terrorism on Hindus' </b>
Ahmedabad, September 28: Hindus were the first to bring terrorism in the country, followed by Sikhs, so to believe Islam as the fountainhead of terrorist activities in the country is a wrong proposition.
This was the take of eminent political philosopher Bhikhu Parekh, who was in the city to deliver the seventh Dr RL Sanghvi Endowment AMA Annual Lecture on Economics on âDialogue between Culturesâ at Ahmedabad Management Association.
<b>ââTerrorist activities in the country were first started by Hindus, and even Sikhs contributed a great deal to it, so to blame Muslims through and through for terrorism in the country doesnât make sense,ââ he said addressing a media gathering post the event. </b>
ââIf 3 per cent of Indian Sikhs could wreck havoc on the entire country, 12 per cent Muslims should have devastated the country till now. If at all certain sections of Muslims are dissatisfied, we should probe why this is happening rather than blame ourselves,ââ he said.
ââNo Indian Muslims in Britain are clubbed as terrorists. There might be many reasons behind that. They are better educated, are economically well-off, and are culturally tolerant,ââ he added.
Skirting questions on the controversial Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2006 passed by the Gujarat Government, <b>Parekh said conversion is a political issue that can be sorted out politically</b>. âThere are conversions that are genuine. There are also conversions that might become commodity where there is inequality of power and economy. <b>Conversion also might act as a power statement where politics is involved,ââ he said, adding, ââIf it is a political problem, it is politics alone that can sort out the problems involved.â </b>
Taking a potshot at the US, Parekh observed the misplaced idea of clash of civilisation as propagated by Samuel Huntington in the book by the same name and bought by the American government, was making us all sleepwalk in the Third Cold War.
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http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=74593
<b>'Blame terrorism on Hindus' </b>
Ahmedabad, September 28: Hindus were the first to bring terrorism in the country, followed by Sikhs, so to believe Islam as the fountainhead of terrorist activities in the country is a wrong proposition.
This was the take of eminent political philosopher Bhikhu Parekh, who was in the city to deliver the seventh Dr RL Sanghvi Endowment AMA Annual Lecture on Economics on âDialogue between Culturesâ at Ahmedabad Management Association.
<b>ââTerrorist activities in the country were first started by Hindus, and even Sikhs contributed a great deal to it, so to blame Muslims through and through for terrorism in the country doesnât make sense,ââ he said addressing a media gathering post the event. </b>
ââIf 3 per cent of Indian Sikhs could wreck havoc on the entire country, 12 per cent Muslims should have devastated the country till now. If at all certain sections of Muslims are dissatisfied, we should probe why this is happening rather than blame ourselves,ââ he said.
ââNo Indian Muslims in Britain are clubbed as terrorists. There might be many reasons behind that. They are better educated, are economically well-off, and are culturally tolerant,ââ he added.
Skirting questions on the controversial Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2006 passed by the Gujarat Government, <b>Parekh said conversion is a political issue that can be sorted out politically</b>. âThere are conversions that are genuine. There are also conversions that might become commodity where there is inequality of power and economy. <b>Conversion also might act as a power statement where politics is involved,ââ he said, adding, ââIf it is a political problem, it is politics alone that can sort out the problems involved.â </b>
Taking a potshot at the US, Parekh observed the misplaced idea of clash of civilisation as propagated by Samuel Huntington in the book by the same name and bought by the American government, was making us all sleepwalk in the Third Cold War.
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