By TCN News,
New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has demanded adequate representation of Muslims in police and security agencies to check communalism and anti-Muslim riots that are taking place at regular interval. While addressing mediamen at monthly press conference on Saturday, Jamaat leaders made the demand in the wake of the recent riots in Mathura and Pratapgarh.
“Jamaat-e-Islami Hind views with grave concern the situation that even after six decades of independence the communal riots are continuing. Recently, in Kosi Kalan near Mathura, on the excuse of a small skirmish, there was a big communal incident in which three Muslims were killed and widespread looting and burning of properties was perpetrated. Likewise, in Asthan (Pratapgarh) UP about 50 houses were looted and burned. At both places the police played the role of silent spectators and thereby encouraged the killers and arsonists. It is a matter of great shame,” said Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Aslam, media secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH).
L-R: Jamaat Islami leaders Er Mohammad Saleem and Ejaz Aslam addressing mediapersons at the headquarters of the organization in New Delhi on 7th July 2012
Mr. Aslam demanded that the government should take prompt action against the trouble shooters, disallow moves to disturb peace, take appropriate stringent action against wrong doing officials and policemen who acted like silent spectators and pay full compensation and reparation to the affected people. He also demanded adequate presence of Muslims in police forces.
“A step towards lashing solution of the problem would be providing adequate representation to Muslims in police and security forces. This has been recommended by Sachar Committee report also,” he said and cited the fact that Muslims are just 1.8% in Delhi police force.
Speaking on police reforms to shun its communal attitude to stop anti-Muslim riots, Mr. Aslam said, “a recent report about Delhi Police indicates that in it out of 83,000 persons Muslims are only 1300 or 1.8% and even that at the lower levels. The position is worse in some other states.” He suggested, “if Muslims are given adequate representation in police and security forces the police may be forced to shun communal attitude and adopt just attitude and fulfill its professional duties correctly. It is imperative to implement the recommendations of different commissions to reform police and its working.”
He demanded that the police should be trained to be free from communal virus and act neutrally with a view to upholding law and protecting the oppressed. “This is the bounden duty of all well-wishers of the country to make all out efforts to put an end to communal conflicts once and for all,” he added.
Expressing his views on the continued illegal arrest of Muslim youths in the name of terror, he said the campaign seems to be part of a conspiracy.
Mr. Aslam stated, “the Illegal arrest of Muslims youth is continuing. It appears to be a conspiracy to keep the Muslims away from the task of reconstruct of themselves and the country always worried and in engaged in solving their own problems.”
Giving the example of arresting Muslim youths, Mr. Aslam said, “Young Engineer Fasih Mahmood was arrested in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on 13th May and subsequently a red corner notice was issued for his arrest. When dragged to Supreme Court the government was taking date after date and unable to explain on whose orders he was arrested. Even now it is not in a position to state in whose custody he is. Likewise, two Kashmiri students of Jamiatul Falah were abducted in full public view at Aligarh Railway station. After protests all over the country the government was forced to bring them over ground in Jammu. Even now it does not find itself in a position to explain who arrested them and on whose orders as is evident from U.P. government’s reply in Allahabad high court.”
Mr. Aslam said, “the Supreme Court has stipulated the conditions and precautions which should be observed when a person is to be arrested. This is also necessary that, the persons’ relatives, guardians should be informed when arrest takes place. Further, the detainee has the right to take help from an advocate to safeguard his rights. But these instructions are flouted and youths are being arrested everywhere and thus a bad name is being given to Muslim community. Besides, they are being booked in countless cases with a view to harass the entire community. This is a painful situation for the community and all justice loving persons. Moreover, it is spreading among common people the impression that the Muslims are terrorists or at least supporters of terrorism. Whereas the fact is that the Muslims want to live as peaceful and equal citizens of the country, engaged in doing their duty and struggling to secure their rights.”
Mr. Aslam also discussed a recent Tata institute of Social Sciences (TISS) report based on an analytical study which disclosed that in Maharashtra, where the Muslims form 10.6% of population, 36% of jail inmates are Muslims.
Expressing on TISS report Mr. Aslam said, “TISS has also pointed out that most of the Muslims have been languishing in jail on insufficient allegations and legal is available to them and they are faced with worst type of discrimination. The community should take notice of this deplorable situation and social organisations and government also must take corrective steps.”
The press conference was also addressed by national secretary of Jamaat Islami Er Mohammad Saleem.