‘We are proud we live in India’: Imam body chief hits back at Hamid Ansari over ‘Hindu extremism’ remarks.

The remarks by former Vice President Hamid Ansari on “Hindu extremism” and the RSS have drawn criticism from Muslim clerics, with All India Imam Association president Maulana Sajid Rashidi saying Muslims should not be made to feel like outsiders in India.Rashidi said people who hold constitutional posts are expected to represent all sections of society and questioned Ansari’s decision to speak on such issues after leaving office.Speaking to ANI, Rashidi said Ansari had not made many statements in favour of Muslims while serving as Vice President but had spoken on several such issues after leaving office.“Hamid Ansari sahab, when he was Vice President, you did not see many statements from him in favour of Muslims. But after leaving that post, several statements have come from him, and it appears as if he is now presenting himself as a leader of Muslims.”Rashidi also said extremism should be judged by whether it promotes hatred against other communities.“Extremism becomes wrong when hatred against others comes into it. If someone follows their religion and does not trouble others, that is a different matter,” he said.‘We are even prouder that we live in India’Rashidi said Muslims had chosen to remain in India during Partition and had contributed to the country.“We say with pride that we are Muslims, but we are even prouder that we live in India,” he said.He said remarks suggesting that Muslims do not belong in India could create a sense of insecurity within the community. He called on political organisations and leaders to act against statements targeting any community.Rashidi also referred to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on Hindu-Muslim relations and said calls for communal harmony should be followed by people across communities.Earlier on Sunday, chief Imam of All India Imam Organisation Umer Ahmed Ilyasi also criticised Ansari over his comments on “Hindu extremism”.Ilyasi alleged that Ansari’s remarks were intended to provoke Muslims and could disturb the social atmosphere.

“I strongly condemn this statement. Today, Hamid Ansari sahab has remembered Muslims again. When he was in power and held important positions, he was secular. Today, he has remembered Muslims.Ilyasi further alleged that Ansari was trying to regain his standing among Muslims and claimed that his remarks could create tension in society.“Muslims are not asking about him, and to improve his image among Muslims, he has made such statements. I feel that somewhere this is a big conspiracy to disturb the atmosphere of the country,” Ilyasi said.