LUCKNOW: The need for education and employment for Muslims was highlighted on Saturday at RSS-backed conference of ulemas here, which also cautioned the people of the community against being used to "boost" political ambitions of a handful leaders.

The All India Ulema Conference called by RSS-backed Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) also deliberated on terrorism and communal riots. It asserted that terrorism has nothing to do with Islam which was being defamed in the name of "jihad".

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All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) did not participate in the event.

Kendriya pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh Indresh Kumar emphasized that it was high time that the message of Prophet Muhammad for peace was propagated across the globe and asked the Muslims of India to a play a key role in it.

Addressing the meet, Manch convenor Mohd Afzal said all sects of Muslims, whether Deobandi, Shia, Sunni or Barelvi were on one platform.

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"Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam and Muslims would not remain a vote bank," he said, and asked Muslims to follow the ideals of former President APJ Abdul Kalam .

Hazrat Maulana Qasim said Islam was being defamed in the name of "jihad" by those who do not know its meaning.

"Jihad means spreading light. It is a fight against darkness," he said at the meeting where no prominent Muslim leader from the state capital was present.

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Maulana Ibrahim from Karnataka said no person was a Muslim only by name. He said those acting against humanity could not be true Muslims.

Maulana Haider alleged that politicians provoked Muslims against RSS and Hindus against minorities.