Bhopal, Aug. 17: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has launched a movement to "save religion and the Indian Constitution" and appealed to other minority communities to be part of the programme.

Called " Deen aur Dastoor Bachao Tahreek (Save religion and constitutional movement)", the campaign reflects what the board feels are fears that both are under threat in the country.

At a conclave of clerics, imams, qazis and heads of minority schools and colleges held in Bhopal today, the apex body of various Muslim sects in India expressed concern over "growing intolerance" towards minorities in India.

The AIMPLB has urged other minority groups such as Christians, Sikhs and Jains to join its movement against "the imposition of the Vedic culture".

The AIMPLB's working general secretary, Maulana Wali Rahmani, also chose to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. "Before visiting a mosque in some other country, it would have been better if Modi had visited a masjid in India," Rahmani said.

The AIMPLB also expressed its disappointment with a recent court verdict that banned the practice of Santhara, the ritualistic fast-to-death, in the Jain community.

Rahmani, who hails from Bihar, said Santhara was an age-old tradition with religious significance. "We (the AIMPLB) are in principle opposed to the court's verdict and express our solidarity with the Jain community."

Asked to explain his opposition to the growing "imposition of the Vedic culture", Rahmani said: "Ever since the emergence of the new government (at the Centre), there is a need for a mass awakening. Attempts are being made to make yoga compulsory; Muslims are compelled to sing Vande Mataram and school books are changed to include one particular religion's history or eulogy.

"The claims are being made to convert all Muslims to Hinduism and to make India a Hindu Rashtra by 2020. This is a major indication that one is in dire need to save his religion and the present Constitution of India."

An AIMPLB resolution said in the past one-and-a-half years, some Muslims, along with Christians and other minorities, had come under attack from "radical-mindset Hindus".

There have been several instances of hate speeches by ruling party leaders, sadhvis and bosses of other radical outfits. "The Constitution of India provides rights to all the people to practice and propagate religion but direct attacks are being made on individual choices in regards with religion and one particular ideology is being forced on all people, there by destroying the multi-culture India was enjoying since Independence," the board resolution said.

The board appealed to Muslims to stick to their religion and not to allow any kind of interference in religious affairs by any authority and not to bow down to the government if it tried to snatch their fundamental right of professing individual religion.

It added that secularism was the backbone of pluralism, which is under danger in India. "As a start, we will organise seminars and symposiums all over the country in different cities and centres and would urge people to contribute in strengthening the secular aspects of the country," the resolution said.