Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has expressed serious concern over increasing extremism, government’s discriminatory attitude towards Muslims on the basis of religion. The government seems to be having two laws: one for the majority community and another for the Muslims. And the best example of it is the police conduct in Uttar Pradesh saying that the violent protesters against the Agnipath scheme are “our children” and do not use batons and guns against them while it behaves with peaceful Muslim protesters as if they are children of enemies. The UP government is also silent on bulldozing the houses of protesters involved in torching railway bogies, police outposts and destroying government properties, while it brazenly razed the houses of peaceful Muslim protesters against insult to the honour of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in several cities and towns.
India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH), one of the biggest organization of Indian Muslims, has expressed grave concern over the growing sectarianism, extremism, law and order situation and the discriminatory attitude of the government towards the Muslim minority in the country.
These concerns were expressed at the end of the working committee meeting of the organization presided over by its president Maulana Arshad Madani here on Monday.
While discussing the current situation in the country, JUH leaders felt that “this is not a good sign for peace, unity and solidarity of the country.”
Two resolutions were passed at the meeting.
The first resolution said that “it is not enough to suspend those who dared to insult the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) but they should be arrested immediately and punished severely according to law, which would be lesson for others.”
JUH opposes bid to amend Places of Worship Act, 1991
The second resolution opposed any attempt to amend The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The meeting opined that any amendment to the Act could have “disastrous consequences.”
“The Act should be strictly enforced rather than amended or changed,”, the resolution demanded. The Section 4 of the Act clearly states that “that the religious character of a place of worship must be the same as it was on August 15, 1947.”
Section 4 in clause 2 of the Act says that “on the commencement of this Act, any suit, appeal or other proceeding with respect to the conversion of the religious character of any place of worship, existing on the 15th day of August, 1947, is pending before any court, tribunal or other authority, the same shall abate, and no suit, appeal or other proceeding with respect to any such matter shall lie on or after such commencement in any court, tribunal or other authority.”
“That is why the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has intervened in the petition filed in the Supreme Court against this law,” the JUH leader said in the meeting.
Addressing the working committee, JUH President Maulana Arshad Madani said that meeting of the working committee was being held at a critical time when “unrest, chaos, sectarianism and lawlessness are at their peak in the whole country. The constitutional and democratic powers of the people are being snatched away. Even the peaceful protests carried out by them are being interpreted as anti-national and they are being tortured under the guise of law.”
Maulana Madani said that “the honour of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was deliberately insulted, and when the Muslims protested demanding the arrest of these people, they were dispersed by bullets and sticks, and bulldozers were used to raze the houses of many people, mass arrests were made, and cases have been registered against them under serious provisions”.
Governments take over the job of courts
“It means that the work of the courts is now being done by the governments. It seems that the rule of law in India has come to an end. The words that come out of their mouths are the law. It seems that there is no need for courts or judges in the country now,” Maulana Madani lamented.
Pointing out that protest was a democratic right of every Indian citizen but “the present rulers have formed two criteria” to watch the protest, he said that “If the Muslim minority protests then it is an unforgivable crime. But if the people from majority community protest, carry out acts of violence on streets, blow up entire trains and stations, they are not even charged with a light baton to disperse them.”
Discrimination between protesters on basis of religion is deplorable
“The discrimination between the protesters and demonstrators on the basis of religion by the administration is regrettable,” he pointed out.
He said, “the violent protest against the contract job in the army is a clear proof of this. Protesters set fire to trains in various places, damaged government property and pelted stones at the police. So, the same police that crossed all boundaries against Muslims have remained a silent spectator. The people who have been arrested in connection with this violent protest have been charged with such light provisions that they can be granted bail from the police station itself. A senior official of UP police says on these incidents that these are our children, they need to be explained.”
Maulana Madani questioned: “Were those who protested peacefully against those who insulted their Prophet (PBUH), are children of the enemy?”
He said that there was no room for any doubt in this regard. “One India, the great India and all those who chanted the slogan of development of all together have also given religious colour to the law, where the law is different for the majority and different for the minority. The question is now if peaceful protest is a crime in the country then why the houses of those who protested violently have not been demolished yet?”he asked.
Maulana Madani further said that the letter written by the BJP office regarding the suspension of the insolent leaders also stated that the party abides by the Constitution of the country and has a spirit of respect for all religions. If so, why are the insolent leaders still free? Those who protest against the perpetrators, are being imprisoned with severe charges, and those who have hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims are still free.
“Could there be a worse example of double standards?” Maulana Madani asked.
“We love the soil of our homeland, our elders have irrigated it with their blood, so we have been constantly warning that this politics of hatred will destroy the country,” he said.
“If there is an attempt to suppress minorities under the supremacy of the majority, then remember that this country can never move forward on the path of development,” he opined.
Maulana Madani also said that the violent protest of the youth across the country against the Agnipath scheme is a warning to the government.
“If the development of the country is not thought of, employment opportunities are not created, and if educated youth are not given jobs, then the day is not far when all the youth of the country will be on the streets,” he warned.
Maulana Madani answered question regarding the solution of this problem? He said that the solution to this problem to ban the hateful debates on TV channels.
“The government should have taken a tough stand in this regard long ago but despite all our demands, the government did not do so,” he complained.
It was because of this reason, JUH went to the court. But the court has not reached to any final order in this connection because of the lock of interest on the part of the government though 13 hearings have been held in this regard so far.
