Jamaat demands complete freedom for Haj Committee to make its own travel arrangements, choose airlines
“NCTC curbs civil liberty”
“Govt should snap all diplomatic ties with Israel”
By TCN News
New Delhi: “Love and trust are needed for the development of the country but there is no need of the law like TADA, POTA and UAPA, and institution like NCTC,” said Mohammad Jafar, vice-president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Saturday referring to draconian laws and the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Mr. Jafar appealed people, Human Rights organisations and civil society to take timely action to prevent the government from taking this dangerous step and unite to establish peace and justice in the country.
Mohammad Jafar addressing the media in Delhi.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind was briefing the press about its stand on NCTC, Haj Subsidy, the recent summit of BRICS Countries, continuous Israeli aggression against Palestinians and attempt to harm Aqsa Mosque and ongoing bloodshed in Syria in a press meet held today at its headquarters.
Addressing the media persons on NCTC, Mr. Jafar said, “We view with concerns the effort to curb civil liberty in the country. Misusing the power, Government is continuously doing excesses against Muslims and other weaker sections and nabbing innocent persons by putting false charges of terrorism. After the amendment, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) has been made draconian up to a dangerous level. Now the Union Government has planned to establish National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) with the support of this draconian law. Establishing this centre would not only disturb the power equation between Union government and state governments but also there is a strong apprehension that it may be used against Muslims and weaker sections and their organisations. TADA and POTA were also used against oppressed for further persecution. Putting false charges, providing opportunity for trial by Media, recovering RDX and arms when required, are something that is very easy for our police and agencies.”
Hajj subsidy
On Haj Subsidy, Mr. Jafar stressed upon the Government that if it wanted to abolish the subsidy it should be on the condition that the Haj Committee should has complete freedom to hire the airlines which is most economical and trustworthy. He called on the Government to allow Haj Committee to call open tenders and make its own travel arrangements. “At present, Rs. 16000/- is being charged from a Haji for the travel and Rs.34000/- is given as subsidy to the airlines making total Rs.50000/, which is given to Air India. As per market rates the private airlines charge 17000/- to 18000/- per head as two-way air fare. The Air India’s fare is much higher than the private airlines and the facilities are also inferior. Since more than one lakh pilgrims go for Haj every year, if properly plan the air fare would be much less than the normal day fares. Therefore the Haj subsidy is mere an illusion instead of helping and supporting Haj pilgrims and other agencies are being benefited under the cover of Haj subsidy,” he addded.
Brics
The Vice President of JIH, appreciated the BRICS countries’ effort to strengthen mutual relations and cooperation. He said, “The coalition of these countries, which has 40% of the world population, is in the interest of their people and it will also weaken unipolar leadership and strengthen mutual cooperation as these countries did not yield to American pressure regarding importing of oil from Iran.”
Mr. Jafar demanded the BRICS countries including India to stress on mutual cooperation along with considering the interest of developing countries too. “Resolve their problems for promoting human friendly and just political and economic system,” he added.
Palestine
Expressing serious concerns about the situation of Palestine, Mr. Jafar condemned the nonstop Israeli aggression, raids on Palestinians and their brutal killings. “Israel has made the atmosphere of Middle East very explosive by its terror activities and constantly opposing the establishment of Palestinians state. West Banks’s Palestinian people have been made victims of atrocities while 1.5 million Palestinian population Gaza strip has been confined in their own land. Aqsa Mosque is being damaged by giving permission of intrusion to extremist Jews while putting ban on Palestinians from praying in the mosque at a regular intervals,” he said.
Mr. Jafar appealed the United Nations, Arab League and all freedom loving peoples to come out with constructive struggle for the establishment of Palestinian state. He demanded the Government to adopt the same policy of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding Palestine. He called on the government of India to snap all diplomatic ties with Israel and stop purchasing arms from Israel.
Syria
Speaking on Syria’s situation, The Vice-President said, “The entire Islamic world is in the grief over the constant brutal killings of civilians and bloodshed in Syria since several years.” He demanded the Syrian government to immediately stop atrocities against its civilians and respect civil liberty and remove all draconian laws including emergency and implement UN-Arab League peace plan for restoring peace and justice in the country.”
JIH secretary Engineer Mohammed Saleem was the convenor of press meet and two other its secretaries Mr. Mohammed Ahmed and Mr. Shafi Madani were present on the occasion.