By M. Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Maulana Abdul Hameed Noumani, Secretary (Press and Publications), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind told TCN, “Maulana Mahmood Madani was pointing to the fact that the Congress Party cannot take Muslims for granted and reap fruits over fear of Narednra Modi always. It’s a fact that Muslims in many Congress ruled states or for that matter Left ruled West Bengal are worse off.”
He added, “No one has endorsed Modi…past mistakes are unforgiveable and Maulana Madani was pointing to electoral results and we should not read too much into it.”
Maulana Mahmood Madani
When confronted that Maulana Ghulam Vastanvi had said similar things two years back, for which he lost his the rector-ship of Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Nomani said that he in a way had endorsed Modi then and you cannot really compare the two.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani had said in a TV interview: “In Gujarat, Jamiat workers on the ground have told me that in several Assembly segments, Muslims voted for Modi. There is a perceptible change of heart and circumstances are different now. I agree the times are changing. Muslims in Gujarat are economically better off than in several states which have so-called secular governments in power.”
Former Delhi Minorities Commission Chairman and Samajwadi Party leader, Kamal Farooqui told TCN, “I saw the interview and that Maulana Sahab said nothing wrong. Media has given it an unnecessary hype by selectively quoting and drawing unwarranted inferences.”
In recent times we have seen Muslims in Gujarat voting for the BJP and according to Kamal Farooqui Muslims in Gujarat are doing it out of compulsion, as they feel they are left with no other option. He too reminded that Muslims in other states are no better off compared to Gujarat.
Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, Editor of Milli Gazzete fortnightly and President of the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, said that he saw the interview and at no point Madani endorsed the Gujarat Chief Minister and hence those groups or individuals who are accusing him of doing it in hope of political favour should refrain from such unwarranted statements. He added that Maulana Madani has himself given a clarification now and so the matter should end there.
Dr Khan further said that he only stated the fact that we see Muslims in Gujarat (or in Bihar) voting for BJP and that does not amount to endorsement. He added that it’s been a decade now and ordinary people in Gujarat see no other option, but to move and worry for future and career than hold on to past. Moreover, people often vote on localized issues, he added.
SDPI National General Secretary, Hafiz Manzoor Ali Khan said that Narendra Modi is anti-Muslim and that there is no change in his stance. He elaborated on how his government went against the central government scholarship schemes meant for minorities and that he is not giving National Minorities Commission Chairman Wajahat Habibullah appointment.
However, as Maulana Madani has clarified that he did not mean to endorse Modi we should let the matter rest here, he added, cautioning the Muslim leadership to be careful while speaking, particularly in context to Gujarat lest it sends the wrong message.