SRINAGAR: J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha urged Sufi scholars Saturday to find ways to popularise their cult among youths and strengthen counter-radicalisation efforts.
“A multi-dimensional strategy is needed to make Sufism popular among youth so that extremist ideology does not get an opportunity to surface,” Sinha said at Sufi conference along Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake.
He noted that Sufism had for centuries acted as a bulwark against extremist ideology and propaganda. “Sufism means a way of life. Sufi teachings completely reject any kind of violence and discrimination,” the LG said.
Sinha pushed for Sufi education, music and poetry to reach people through video podcasts and social media campaigns. “Sufism needs to be taken to the youth through new mediums,” the LG said. He exhorted youth influencers to join such campaigns and Sufi scholars to promote their literature, followed by a possible mentorship programme to guide the young.
In a swipe at Pakistan’s support to terrorism in J&K, the LG pointed out that some “conflict entrepreneurs have joined hands with our neighbour are attempting to radicalise youths”. “I urge the people, especially the young generation, to identify and isolate the divisive elements and ensure that such conflict profiteers have no place in the society,” Sinha said.
The LG indicated that such threats had been met squarely in recent years. “In the last four-five years, with the cooperation of people, security forces and police have succeeded to a great extent in getting J&K out of this mess. But we still have a long way to go,” Sinha said.
Besides Sufi scholars, Supreme Court judge N. Kotiswar Singh and J&K high court Chief Justice Arun Palli were among those present at the conference.
“A multi-dimensional strategy is needed to make Sufism popular among youth so that extremist ideology does not get an opportunity to surface,” Sinha said at Sufi conference along Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake.
He noted that Sufism had for centuries acted as a bulwark against extremist ideology and propaganda. “Sufism means a way of life. Sufi teachings completely reject any kind of violence and discrimination,” the LG said.
Sinha pushed for Sufi education, music and poetry to reach people through video podcasts and social media campaigns. “Sufism needs to be taken to the youth through new mediums,” the LG said. He exhorted youth influencers to join such campaigns and Sufi scholars to promote their literature, followed by a possible mentorship programme to guide the young.
In a swipe at Pakistan’s support to terrorism in J&K, the LG pointed out that some “conflict entrepreneurs have joined hands with our neighbour are attempting to radicalise youths”. “I urge the people, especially the young generation, to identify and isolate the divisive elements and ensure that such conflict profiteers have no place in the society,” Sinha said.
The LG indicated that such threats had been met squarely in recent years. “In the last four-five years, with the cooperation of people, security forces and police have succeeded to a great extent in getting J&K out of this mess. But we still have a long way to go,” Sinha said.
Besides Sufi scholars, Supreme Court judge N. Kotiswar Singh and J&K high court Chief Justice Arun Palli were among those present at the conference.
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