Muslim body to counter religious discrimination with 'Gandhigiri'

Shaken by the incident of a Muslim MBA being denied a job in a Hindu-owned diamond export company on religious grounds, the Indian Union Muslim League announced on Saturday that it would counter the issue with "Gandhigiri".

They said this would strengthen the communal bonds within the country's commercial capital.

IUML President Pervez Lakdawala said that henceforth Muslim-owned companies would gladly offer employment to 10 Hindus for every Muslim candidate rejected by a Hindu-owned company on any grounds.

"Rejection of employment on religious grounds is very dangerous to the secular fabric and the country's unity and integrity," Lakdawala told media persons here on Saturday.

"It is also a major challenge to the constitutional and religious pillars of the world's largest democracy... Such things cannot be tolerated."

He was accompanied by All India Milli Council (AIMC) general secretary M.A. Khalid and other prominent community leaders, who discussed the manner in which a Muslim youth from Kurla, Zeeshan Ali Khan, was rejected by Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd.

The candidate, like two of his friends and co-applicants, holds MBA qualification and the rejection was purely because he followed Islam, they said.

The company is headquartered in the Bandra-Kurla Complex which is a cosmopolitan business hub in central Mumbai.

Lakdawala said this is not the first time such a thing may have happened, but this time it has come to light with evidence for which the media and social media should get full credit.

"We follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and so we shall counter this trend with 'Gandhigiri'. So all companies owned by Muslims will give jobs to 10 Hindus for every Muslim rejected on religious grounds by Hindu-owned companies," Lakdawala said.

Khalid termed the issue as unfortunate and regressive in a democratic country which has made great strides in different spheres and urged the central and state government to examine the matter thoroughly and take remedial measures.

He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up an "Equal Opportunities Commission" to ensure that similar discrimination on any grounds could be prevented in future and the slogan of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas" could be implemented in letter and spirit.

The IUML and AIMC have also written letters to President Pranab Mukherjee, prime minister, chief justice of India, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, chief justice of Bombay High Court, labour minister, National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission of Minorities seeking their intervention in the matter, said Khalid.

Meanwhile, Mukund Mani and Omkar Bansode, who were offered jobs in Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. have decided to reject the offers in protest against the refusal of placement to their friend and batchmate, Khan.