By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: In a major shift from traditional community-centred approach, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has urged the Muslim community and their leaders to show their concern for the issues and problems like poverty and hunger confronting general masses in India.
“It’s our sincere appeal to the Indian Muslims and their leaders to raise their voices to address all the major problems in this country like poverty, hunger and lawlessness and to show that Indian Muslims are not indifferent to the problems faced by the billions of our Indian brothers,” said JIH General Secretary, Nusrat Ali while addressing a public convention on “Save the Country from Slavery, Poverty and Unrest” on November 7 here at the JIH headquarter in New Delhi.
Mr. Ali further said that Indian Muslims and their leaders need to show that they too care for this country and are committed to contribute with their ideas on every major malaise in this country.
JIH Secretary General said that “Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has a program on how to alleviate poverty from this country and we felt that we should present our view to the people of this nation.”
Criticizing the economic and social policies of the current Congress led UPA government at the center, JIH secretary general said that “India has failed to show any progress on Human Development Index indicators.
He also referred to the ever increasing rich-poor divide and the increasing numbers of millionaires and billionaires in the country.
Mr. Ali also pointed towards the deteriorating law and order problem in the country where hundreds of Muslim youths had been illegally detained tortured and encountered
Naved Hamid, Member of National Integration Council strongly criticized the arrests of innocent youths on the name of fighting terror and demanded that investigating agencies must be made accountable.
He appreciated the political effort of JIH in Kerala and said the problems in democracy can be solved through active participation. He also demanded the prosecution of RSS cadre who are found guilty of spreading terrorism at par with the other criminals and terrorists.
Citing the demographical change in India, he pointed that, more than 50% are
youth and we should plan and strategize our actions according to the modern
trend.
Nusrat Ali said “government can stop us from going to Ramleela Maidan but it cannot prevent us from conveying our message against poverty, lawlessness and its Neo-Imperialist policies.”
He was referring to the last minute withdrawal of the permission by the Delhi police to hold a rally because of the high security for the Obama visit to New Delhi on Sunday, after which the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) rally was converted in to a public meeting.
Interestingly after the withdrawal of this permission the focus of the rally shifted from poverty into a ranting against the government for what the organizers of the rally and the speakers saw as “violation of the freedom of expression” of Muslims.
Surprisingly ignoring the general high security measures of the government, many speakers implied conspiracy theories saying that the permission was withdrawn only because it was a rally by JIH and Muslims.
Maulana Mehmood Madni MP and leader of Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind also criticized the government policies and said we are going to lose more than gain from the USA
Delivering the Presidential Address Maulana Jalaluddin Umri condemned the last minute withdrawal of the permission to organize a rally citing VVIP visit of the US President, Barak Obama.
He talked in detail about the sense of unity which Islam has brought about in the world.
The convention passed a resolution which dealt with several issues ranging from poverty, corruption, disruptive acts, foreign policy, right to food, Babri Masjid and Muslim educational institutions.
Ayodhya verdict
The convention regarded the judgment about Babri Masjid, delivered by Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, as “most unfortunate” and feels that instead of honoring the requirements of justice and reliance on competent evidence, the court has relied on so called “AASTHA”.
The resolution further said that “this session endorses and supports the decision of the Muslim representative forum, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).” AIMPLB has decided to take this matter to the Supreme Court.
Poverty
The resolution said “Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) views with concern the growing inflation, unemployment and the unhealthy trends of economic policies. The country is heading towards growing economic disparity. The total wealth is increasing but the burden of progress is being born by the poor masses; they are not benefited by the fruits of development.”
The convention demanded from the government that it “must review its current policies and amend them to ensure justice for people. It should prohibit speculative and spurious deals. Oil prices should be brought down and excessive taxes withdrawn. Subsidies and allocation for welfare schemes should be enhanced”
Agricultural growth
The resolution expressed its concern at the dim rate of agricultural growth in the country and demanded interest free loans to the farmers.
It said, “Agriculture sector is being ignored and marginalized with only 17% investment. In spite of increasing prices, the government is not willing to curb spurious speculative dealings. Farmers are being compelled towards suicide. This session demands that the government provide interest free loans to farmers.”
The resolution also demanded that “interest free Banking be permitted in the country by enacting suitable legislation. The government must review its current policies and amend them to ensure justice for people…Oil prices should be brought down and excessive taxes withdrawn. Subsidies and allocation for welfare schemes should be enhanced.”
The resolution passed in the convention also demanded that the “government must affirm and declare in clear terms that Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi are Muslim minority educational institutions.”
The convention expressed its amazement that “on the one hand, the government talks about deprivation of Muslims in education and even makes some cosmetic promises to undertake remedial measures. But on the other hand , it is not prepares to acknowledge in clear terms that AMU and Jamia are Muslim minority institutions, within the meaning of relevant constitutional previsions; though the whole world knows that these institutions which are now a century old are part of the Muslim heritage.”
Foreign policy
The convention condemned the neo-imperialist foreign policies of the government of India.
It said that the traditional policy on Non-Alignment ‘is now being changed. Under American pressure, we are supporting its unjust actions; values as well as our country’s independence are being compromised. Civil nuclear liability bill and vote against Iran are recent instances. The liability of American companies has been reduced to an absurd minimum. Instead of the lives of millions of Indians, American company’s interests have been given greater weightage.”
The convention further demanded a review of India’s foreign policy to bring it in line with India’s traditional role and demands of justice.