Free flow of ideas is essential to avoid disputes related to religious identity

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s statement related to Islam

New Delhi – Free flow of ideas is essential to avoid disputes related to religious identity. There should be no compromise on loyalty to religion and country, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said here. He was speaking after releasing the book ‘Islam, Authoritarianism and Underdevelopment’ by Turkish-American scholar Ahmed T. Kuru at a book fair held here on 2^nd February. Doval discussed issues related to religious identity, mainly Islam, at the fair.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval calls for introspection to resolve state-religion conflicts at the launch of Ahmet T. Kuru’s book on Islam and authoritarianism at the New Delhi World Book Fair.

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The National Security Advisor said,

1. The relationship between religion and state is not a unique phenomenon in Islam. This concept has been changed at different stages of history. During the Abbasid dynasty, the role of states and the Imam (the person who leads prayers in the mosque) was different. There was a lot of resistance from the Imam community to adopt the printing press. Generations who could not think outside the box became inactive.

2. In Hinduism, disputes were resolved through scriptures and meditation.

3. If religion and ideology (deliberation) do not compete with each other, they will become largely inactive. They will become victims of inactivity and eventually perish.

4. If we want any change or development, it is important to consider why some societies have become stagnant. Societies that were unable to think outside the box or generate new ideas may have become completely stagnant at one point.