New Delhi: Several members of the Muslim community took part at a fundraising drive for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya at the residence of Delhi BJP leader Vijay Goel Tuesday.
Over a dozen Muslim members, who were present at the drive at Goel’s Babar Road residence, told mediapersons that they wanted to promote the ‘Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb‘, a phrase referring to a syncretic Hindu-Muslim culture.
“Through this drive, we want to give a message that we want to rise above religion and caste and propagate the message of Hindu-Muslim unity, and that humanity is above everything,” Goel said.
Former Delhi BJP chief, Goel was an MP during 1996-98 from Delhi Sadar and
between 1998 and 2004 from Chandni Chowk. Goel said he keeps in touch with members from all communities.
“When I reached out to the traders from Old Delhi asking for donation, several Muslim brothers also expressed their interest. Therefore, I invited our Muslim brothers so that they can also contribute for the temple — the making of which is a symbol of our Indian culture,” he said.
Goel also added that the temple’s construction began after all stakeholders expressed their consent and accepted the Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment. He also said that participation of the Muslim people in the fundraising drive may be seen as symbolic today, but many from the community, especially from places such as Faizabad, Lucknow and Ayodhya, have been contributing towards similar donations.
“It is commonly believed that Muslims are not interested in the construction of the temple, but if we reach out to them, it becomes evident that they also want to contribute,” he further said.
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‘Offering for Lord Ram’
Mudassir Khan from Jama Masjid area, who owns a shop in Chandni Chowk, told ThePrint that he came to know about the fundraising drive from a fellow shopkeeper. Khan had come to the event with five other people.
Syed Mohammad Jawed, a resident of Jafrabad, who participated in the drive, told ThePrint, “We are Hindustani Muslims. Even when we go to Gulf countries, we are called Hindi Muslims. Like our Hindu brothers, we also respect Lord Ram. This is an opportunity for us to give a part of whatever we have by Allah’s grace, as an offering to Lord Ram.”
“The Muslim community has always lived in brotherhood with Hindus, and we will continue to live like this. But some political forces want to use Muslims to fulfill their own agenda. These are the people who don’t endorse the temple,” Jawed added.
Khan also said that he hoped more people will come forward to contribute towards the construction of the temple. “Paancho ungliya barabar nahin hoti (all five fingers are not the same),” he said, when asked about opposition from some Muslim groups. “Some people will oppose this naturally, this is what democracy is,” he said.
Mohammed Munees, a civil engineering student from Maujpur, which was one of the worst-affected areas during the communal riots in northeast Delhi last year, said whether it was a temple or a mosque, both Hindus and Muslims should whole-heartedly contribute and present a good example.
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I’m surprised. Never knew some Muslims were so open to other religions and cultures.
As a reminder, no Hindu taxpayer complains about paying for the maintenance of the Taj Mahal and Jamma Masjid