‘Don’t be mute if you want to fight corruption’ ‘Immorality can’t be fought with inaction’, speakers of symposium vocalise as JIH’s 5-day conference-cum-exhibition begins

Bangalore:  Holding the silence of the law-abiding citizens responsible for the ‘unimaginable’ rise in corruption levels in recent times, speakers at a symposium on January 26 urged the upright and the righteous to raise their voice against wrongdoing, immorality, and treachery.

“We are in an attitudinal crisis of morality. There are zones of comfort for us and we don’t want to come out of them. We live and die only for ourselves,” Justice F M Saldanha, former judge of the High Court, said in his address at a symposium on “Deepening morality crisis”.

Mohammed Abdullah Javeed his inaugural address at the Jammaat e Islami _Banglore Mtero Conference in bangalore on wednesday.Photo by T.AbdulHfeez

The symposium is part of a five-day multilingual conference and exhibition organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Bangalore Metro that began at the Quddus Sahib Idgah (Haj Camp) on Miller’s Road here on January 26.

“Turn to the Creator and His Messenger” is the central theme of the event which has been modelled to call non-Muslims to the fold of Islam.

Maulana Rafiq Ahmad Qasmi, Secretary, JIH inaugurated the January 26-30 conference earlier in the day.

Justice Saldanh, who was in the forefront seeking justice in the Chitralekha murder case, etc rued that silence of the good people against injustice and tyranny had become the ‘dominant’ ideology’ of our times. In this context, he referred to the charges of corruption and land scams against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his ilk.

‘Collective responsibility’

“We no longer come together for a cause and fight against immorality. We shouldn’t just blame the offenders. Somehow, somewhere, we have also contributed to the injustice by not speaking out. We have to share the blame,” he said.

Expressing concern over the death of patients in ambulances stuck in traffic jams, Justice Saldanha said that such incidents indicated our ‘careless and heartless’ attitude. “We don’t give way to ambulances because we think it’s more important for us to reach our office or workplace or home on time. Such an attitude is disgusting and shameless,” he said.

‘It’s I and me’

Dr Taha Mateen, President of JIH Bangalore South, set the tone for the programme. “It’s ‘I and me’ all the way. We no longer care about our parents and neighbours. While parents are ‘dumped’ in old age homes, we behave like strangers with our neighbours. The harsh reality is we don’t bother about violations and breaking of law. ” he observed.

Any solution in sight? Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamy of Nidumamidy Mutt thinks the key is to reconnect with the Creator and strengthen the bond with Him.

In the words of Dr Mohammad Saad Belgaumi, President, JIH, Bangalore Metro, the solution lies in the fear of accountability on the Day of Judgement. “Only the belief in the Almighty and the Hereafter can deter an individual from selfishness and sins. It’s time to return to Him, ask for His forgiveness, and repent,” he said.