By TwoCircles.net News Desk,
New Delhi: All India Progressive Women’s Association has condemned Jaimat Ulema-I-Hind for passing resolutions at its recent Deoband conclave against the interests of women. Some of the resolutions adopted at the congregation of the Jamiat Ulema in Deoband “strongly offend the principle of women’s equality” AIPWA said.
“The resolution calling the Bill for 33% reservation for women ‘unnecessary as well as unacceptable’ does not stop at expressing the apprehension that it might diminish the presence of minorities in representative assemblies. It goes on to declare that ‘Such a desperate attempt to bring women into the mainstream will create various other social problems issues including their security.’ This implies that in order to keep women ‘secure’ they must be deprived of their rights and of a voice in the mainstream”AIPWA Vice President Tahira Hasan and National Secretary Kavita Krishnan said in a joint statement today.
AIPWA has also condemned Jamiat resolution on girl education.
The resolution that says that “On completion of 10 years of age, complete shariat norms should be observed while continuing their (girls’) education” threatens to deprive Muslim girls of the benefits of a complete education, and can only have a disempowering impact on them. AIPWA holds that community organisations – be they khaap panchayats or organisations like the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind should not attempt to impose unconstitutional restrictions on women in the name of ‘protecting’ culture, AIPWA leaders said.
Meanwhile, another group of citizens has also condemned the same resolutions of the Jamiat as well as its controversial resolution on Vande Mataram.
“We, the under signed, are shocked at the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (M group) unprovoked move to revive the Vande Matram controversy now. It is a well-known fact that the debate on Vande Mataram was settled way back in 1930s with the consent of the then leadership of the Jamiat. It was then agreed upon that the controversial parts of the Vande Matram would not be recited. The practice continues,” their statement said.
“We neither believe that the Vande Mataram is a test case of some one’s patriotism. Nor do we agree with the Jamiat interpretation that reciting the song would endanger one’s faith. Therefore, we strongly condemn the Jamiat move to unnecessarily provoke a controversy around Vande Mataram at this juncture. The Jamiat move has only strengthened the Hindutva forces, which have been in disarray since the last parliamentary election. We also condemn the Hindu right wing forces’ attempt to impose its recitation on citizens to prove one’s patriotism.”
The citizens have also condemned Jamiat for its stand on girls’ education and women reservation bill.
They have also condemned Jamiat for opposing Central government move to standardize modern education syllabus through establishing a madarsa board.
“The move, as practiced in nine other states, will open a window for madarsa students to the modern education. It will also streamline and standardize teachers’ salaries within madras. We support the government move in this regard and appeal the Muslim clergy to accept it in the larger interest of the community, madarsa students and madarsa teachers most of whom are presently very lowly paid,” they said.
The undersigned numbering 113 include academicians, social activists, journalists and professionals. They include Gauhar Raza, Hanif Lakdawala, Hasan Shuja, Dr Jamal Kidwai, Irfan Engineer, Seema Mustafa, Shabana Azmi and Shabnam Hashmi.