The TMMK, a mass-based social advocacy outfit, is neither radical nor a sectarian organisation. Its office bearers and members are drawn from various schools of thoughts in the Muslim society. The ideology of the TMMK is not imported as alleged in the interview. The TMMK’s constitution declares that all its activities will be in consonance with the Indian Constitution. The interview fails to mention that the formation of the Hindu Munnani in the early 1980s, signalled through the Mandaikadu riots, was the turning point for communal harmony in Tamil Nadu. The post-Babri Masjid demolition period saw the Muslim community being at the receiving end in several aspects. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Indian National League (INL) turned a blind eye to the sufferings of the Muslim community. It was at this juncture that certain Muslim social activists decided to struggle for the rights in a constitutional and democratic manner. This led to the formation of the TMMK in 1995. Bridge builder TMMK made sincere efforts to build bridges across communities. Through its wide network, the TMMK is the largest donor of blood in the State. The majority of the recipients of our blood are our non-Muslim brethren. The 100-odd ambulances of the TMMK have saved the life of several Indians irrespective of religion or caste in places inaccessible to commercial ambulances. Former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was so impressed by our ambulance service that he donated two ambulances from his own funds. When the tsunami reduced coastal Tamil Nadu to a graveyard, the relief measures of the TMMK where appreciated by one and all, including the Prime Minister. The core point of the interview is the defective assessment that the Muslim community has no representatives to articulate the moderate viewpoint. The TMMK has stood at the forefront for all issues concerning the people of Tamil Nadu in general and Muslims in particular. The TMMK also initiated, agitated and achieved the 3.5 per cent exclusive reservation for the community.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 10:01:02 +0000
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