By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
(Maulana Mahmood Madani, general secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i Hind, in a telephonic interview with TCN held on 9th March, elaborates on the crisis that evolved from the 6th March meeting of the Jamiat’s working committee in New Delhi. At the meeting, a no-confidence motion was passed against Jamiat president Maulana Arshad Madani. He walked out of the meeting and the committee appointed Quari Mohammad Usman, deputy director of Darul Uloom Deoband, as caretaker president of the Jamiat.)
TCN: Has Jamiat Ulama-i Hind, as perceived generally after the 6th March meeting, split?
Not at all. This is a wrong perception being spread by some people. Jamiat stands united today as it was before the meeting. The crisis, if any, will be resolved on 26th March in the general council meeting to be attended by around 5,000 members.
TCN: Why was the emergency meeting of the working committee called on 6th March?
A day after the 28th February meeting of the working committee which ratified election results of three state units of the organization, Maulana Arshad Madani, without taking the working committee into confidence, dismissed 22 of 40 members of the committee. This was the immediate reason for the 6th March meeting. The Jamiat constitution says that general secretary can call a working committee meeting after consulting president but he can also call the meeting on his own if such demand is made by at least five members of the working committee. After the 6th March meeting, seven working committee members asked the general secretary to call the meeting.
TCN: Maulana Arshad Madani says his dismissal is unconstitutional as the working committee has no right to bring a no-confidence motion against the president. What do you say?
The Article 92 of the Jamiat constitution says the working committee can take decision on issues about which the constitution is silent. So his dismissal through the no-confidence motion is well within the letter and spirit of the constitution.
TCN: After the development, where is the Jamiat heading to?
The working committee has called General Council meeting on 26th March. The council to be attended by around 5,000 delegates from around the country will have right to approve the dismissal of Maulana Arshad Madani and appointment of Quari Mohammad Usman as caretaker president or restore the position of the dismissed president.
TCN: What is the agenda for the 26th March General Council meeting?
What will top the agenda is the Council’s stand on the developments that took place on 6th March. Besides, some major issues confronting Muslims in India will also feature the agenda. They include reservation for Muslims in employment, educational institutions and legislative bodies, implementation of the recommendations of the Sachar Committee, tabling the Jagannath Mishra Commission Report in the Parliament and terrorism. Palestinian crisis will also be part of the agenda.