Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday pointed out that a majority of Indian Muslims have undergone conversions from Hinduism. He pointed to the Kashmir Valley as an illustration, highlighting how many Kashmiri Pandits transitioned to Islam.
Azad stressed the importance of refraining from exploiting religion for political advantages. He stated that those who resort to leveraging religion in politics exhibit a lack of strength.
Addressing the notion that some Muslims arrived from outside, Azad asserted that neither outsiders nor insiders are responsible for the presence of Muslims. He outlined the historical emergence of Islam about 1,500 years ago, while acknowledging that some Muslims might have been part of the Mughal army.
Speaking at an event in Doda district, Azad noted that the population of Kashmir comprised mainly Kashmiri Pandits 600 years ago, who subsequently embraced Islam. Azad underscored that all Muslims are now born into the Islamic faith.
"Some BJP leader said some (Muslims) have come from outside and some have not. Nobody has come from outside or inside. Islam came to existence just 1,500 years ago. Hindu religion is very old. Around 10-20 of them (Muslims) must have come from outside, some were there in the Mughal army," the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"All other Muslims converted from Hinduism in India. An example of this can be found in Kashmir. Who were the Muslims in Kashmir 600 years ago? All were Kashmiri Pandits. They converted to Islam. All are born into this religion," he added.
Azad drew a parallel between Hindu and Muslim practices related to death. He mentioned how Hindus are cremated, with their ashes often finding their way into water bodies, while Muslims' remains become an integral part of the nation's soil.
"They (Hindus) are burnt in different places. Their ashes are placed in the river which mixes the water, and we drink that water," he said.
"Later, who sees that the water contains their burnt ashes? People drink that water," he added.
Similarly Muslims' flesh and bones become a part of the nation's soil, Azad pointed out.
"They, too, become a part of this land. Their flesh and their bones become a part of Bharat Mata's soil. Hindus and Muslims both merge into this land. What difference is there between them?" he added.
Taking a dig at the exploitation of religion for electoral gains, Azad said: "Whoever takes refuge in religion in politics is weak. Religion should not be used as a vote bank in politics. Voting should not be based on Hindu and Muslim names."
Senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta concurred with Azad's observations and acknowledged the historical timeline provided by Azad regarding the advent of Islam in India. Gupta clarified that not more than 600 years ago, Kashmir was predominantly Hindu, and the subsequent conversion to Islam was influenced by "invaders."
It was the "invaders" who converted them to Islam and "those who refused were killed brutally", Gupta was quoted as saying by PTI.
Gupta cautioned against manipulating this historical context for divisive political motives and stressed that societal divisions should not be derived from this history, as all members of society share common ancestry.
ALSO READ | Ghulam Nabi Azad says UCC not possible in India
ALSO READ | People of J&K can't be deprived of elected govt for long time: Ghulam Nabi Azad
