There is need to build counter narrative to extremism: J & K Governor

Governor of Jammu and Kashmir N.N.Vohra on Wednesday said there is need to build a counter narrative against terrorism and to revive traditional Sufi thoughts to fight extremist ideology.

"Countries in South Asia, West Asia needs to get together to revive the true, conventional, traditional Islam. In this collective effort, the clergy has to play very important role. The word of the clergy goes far," said Vohra, while delivering an opening address at an international seminar on 'Addressing the Challenge of International Terrorism and Radicalisation' organised by Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis.

"We have to revive the traditional Sufi thoughts to counter extremist discourse. We have to engage the youth in all our countries," he added.

Speaking on how the education system has been used in radicalisation and how same can be used to counter it, Vohra said, "In this entire process, the education system is extremely important because through the system enough damage has been done. To undo the damage we have to use the education system."

On the instances of radicalism among Muslim youth, Vohra said, "We cannot allow such a large community among many communities to go in any direction except the direction that the faith has allowed traditionally over the centuries."

"The actual faith of Islam is not what you see today."

Speaking from his personal experience on the rise of propaganda against India in Kashmir, the Governor said, "The myth which has been created, disseminated and propagated, is that as far as Kashmir is concerned the Centre has only one objective to suppress Kashmiri.

"Incidentally in the valley, today over 99 per cent of the population is one community. So this demonisation is taking place for the last several decades. And the traditional call made to appeal, which is very appealing, is to draw the community of the faithful to one with Ummah to work toward the law of Sharia, and in more recent years to join the Jihad for the installation of the Caliphate."

Referring to the rise in radical Salafi-Wahhabi ideology in the Valley, Vohra said: "The influences from across has destroyed our traditional, secular, inclusive values.

--IANS

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