India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has expressed serious concern over the Russian attack on Ukraine resulting into a major humanitarian crisis and use of “hate politics” during assembly elections in five states. JIH is one of the leading socio-religious organization of Indian Muslims.
Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, JIH national vice-president Engineer Mohammad Salim said that JIH considered Ukraine as “oppressed” and Russia as an “oppressor or aggressor” during the current war.
“We are against any kind of oppression,” Engineer said, while making clear the stand of the JIH on the Russian-Ukraine war.
Pointing out that Ukraine has become a victim of oneupmanship between superpowers, Engineer Salim said that that “the aggression on Iraq, Afghanistan and now on Ukraine highlights the plight of the poor and vulnerable countries that suffer in the clash of superpowers.”
Pointing out that the double standards of powerful nations were the main reason behind violence worldwide, he said that it was high time that United Nations and other world for a were reorganized on democratic and humanitarian principles, and the world moved towards a unified principled position irrespective of the ‘camps’ of the aggressors and the victims.
Engineer Salim urged the government of India to continue bringing back all Indians stranded in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
“All-out efforts should be made to ensure safety of our citizens and the provision of their safe passage back home,” he demanded.
“Unfortunately, some leaders are trying to derive political mileage out of the Ukraine crisis in the ongoing assembly elections,” JIH leader pointed out.
He condemned the incorporation of Ukraine-Russian conflict in UP school education syllabi.
JIH condemns communal politics in elections
Condemning the “hate politics” and “communal politics” practiced by some parties during ongoing assembly elections, he said that the citizens had understood the ploy of certain parties who tried to garner votes through hate speeches and the polarization of votes along religious lines.
Engineer Salim said that use of communalism and hatred to gain political advantage was “anti-national” and “anti-social” and these should be legal action against individuals and parties indulging into such acts.
JIH secretary Mohammad Ahmad, responding to media questions, said that he, during tour of different regions of the state during the elections, found the maturity level of voters had increased and they refused to fall prey to religious slogans and hate politics.
“Real issues came to the forefront like inflation, unemployment, education, and health,” he stated.
Engineer Salim said that Election Commission had failed to strictly implement the Model Code of Conduct and take strong action against those who violated electoral rules and tried to divide the electorates by giving communal and hate speeches and through advertisements in newspapers on government cost.
“The money spent on advertisements is extremely high and there should be a discussion on curbing this practice. There should be a federal law to prevent the party in power from manipulating the government machinery to its advantage,” Engineer Salim demanded.
“JIH demands election reforms to strengthen democracy and prevent the use of money-power and muscle-power for manipulating election results,” the JIH leader said.
