] home, Quraishi said, adding that it was followed by a convention in which minorities from 120 countries participated.
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"We have been aware for quite some time that if the minority communities had good understanding and stood up against the divisive forces of the upper castes, there could be a lot of progress in the country," said Quraishi, whose organisation, the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, coordinated the New York convention. "There would be no communal riots," added Quraishi, who is also the president of AFMI. "In Gujarat, Muslims and Dalits have lived side by side for decades but when the 2002 riots took place, many Dalits took up arms against us. But if they were aware that the upper caste people were poisoning their minds and using them to fight against us, there would not have been violence and bloodshed." Dalits and other minorities can also learn from each other how to empower the seemingly powerless, he added, echoing the thoughts of Dr A R Nadkar, the co-chairman of the convention. Over 300 people including 150 activists led by Paswan attended the convention, he said. The delegates came from half a dozen faiths. The convention honoured Indian civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad and journalist Tarun Tejpal for their courage to highlight the violation of minority rights.
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