The state should deal with the dire economic and cultural conditions that push some youth into terrorism, said Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar, general secretary, Sunni Jamiat Ulema (Kerala).
Speaking to ‘Express’, on the sidelines of the SSF state conference, the veteran leader pointed out that it is “unfortunate that many innocent Muslim youths are framed in false terror charges and that communal elements spread gossips which create suspicion about Muslims among the public”.
“It is true that Muslims are being discriminated against in the country. If there is a bomb explosion anywhere in the country, Muslim youths are forced to prove their innocence. But such discrimination should be dealt using constitutional measures. Taking the law into own hands will create divisiveness in the society,” he said.
A mass exodus of migrant workers from Gulf countries would badly affect the state economy, he added. “I have a feeling that the governmental agencies have failed to act. Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, told me that the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia did not inform the Central Government about the crisis due to the strict enforcement of the Nitaqat policy. The indifferent attitude of the Indian Embassy is disturbing.”
Recalling his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Vayalar Ravi pointed out that “the top brass of the Saudi Kingdom is actually unaware of the plight of the Indian and other Asian workers who have been living in the country and are a significant part of the Saudi Arabian economy. There is a strong network of middlemen who cheat innocent job seekers arriving from Asian countries and leave them in a quandary. A large number of workers from Kerala are in trouble owing to the present state of affairs in that country. I have requested Riyadh Prince Sheikh Salman to ensure that Huroob violators are allowed to return to India without punishment. I have also requested him to take strong action against middlemen who cheat poor expatriates”.
“The attitude of the Saudi authorities gives me hope,” he added. Musliyar criticised the ‘attempts’ made by certain caste organisations to create communal divisions in the society.