Muhammad Jafar also said that corruption and crime can be removed if nation follows Islamic ideology.
By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Vice President (Nayeb-E Amir-E Jamat) of Jamat-E-Islami Hind, Muhammad Jafar spoke to TCN’s Zaidul Haque. Excerpts:
Political crisis appears to be grappling the country, with government at the centre and political parties bogged down by corruptions. What do you see as the way forward?
Four issues are demanding urgency at the matter, these are – corruption, communal fascism, violation of civil rights and economic imperialism. Jamat E Islami Hind is going to organize nationwide campaigns to make people aware about these issues from 20 October to 19 December 2013. Our main slogan for this campaign will be `Garibi aur Gulami hathao, Desh Banchao’ (Eradicate poverty and servitude, save the nation).
Muhammad Jafar
Our campaign will not just focus on cities, but will also move to villages. You cannot make this nation corruption free, unless people are made aware about it. If we succeed in making people aware about these issues, it will be reflected in the 2014 parliamentary elections.
Other than corruption, what other menace do we need to fight as a nation?
Communal fascism and corruption are two menaces that we need to fight simultaneously. Sangh Parivar and BJP are projecting a ‘rioter’ and a fascist leader in Narendra Modi as their prime ministerial candidate, which could endanger the secular fabric of our nation.
If people unitedly do not stop him from becoming prime minister, then Indian heritage and tradition of secularism and syncretic culture would be greatly damaged. This nation would never want a repeat of 2002 genocide. As a nation, together Hindus and Muslims will have to fight at any cost to save this nation. Our civil rights are violated at every step; it can only stop if we protest against it and demand our rights.
Can you elaborate on this violation of civil rights?
The instances of arrests of innocent Muslim youths are increasing day by day. Police and administration accuse them to be terrorists on fabricated charges, but in most cases prosecution fails to prove charges. However, they languish in jails for years, and hence Muslim youths in all the states in our country are afraid of illegal detentions.
Those Muslims who spot the traditional Islamic appearances, like beard or skull caps are looked down upon by security and intelligence agencies as potential terrorists and are unfairly targeted. However, real culprits are often at large.
If people do not get their civil rights they may turn to unethical ways, which are threats to the future India. This kind of discrimination creates grievances and anger amongst youths, who may deviate from the path and rebel. We are noticing how deprived youths are attracted towards taking up arms and becoming Maoist, terrorist, etc, which is very dangerous for the nation.
We are noticing increasing number of rape cases and other such crimes against women. Do you think harsher punishment can be a way forward?
To remove ` social pollution’ like rape, adultery we first need to spread social awareness and inculcate values amongst the people. People who are demanding harsher punishments like death penalty for rape accused are coming closer to Islamic principles. People have seen how harsher punishments in cases of rape and adultery have worked as deterrent in Arab countries and hence they are demanding similar laws in India.
If we preach the Islamic principles of family system, social evils like rape and adultery will anyways come down. Jamat E Islami Hind wants to give the Islamic message to the nation and people of our country.
But increasingly we are noticing the spread of Western culture, how do you think that will be possible?
Western and European countries are trying to introduce Western culture and spread anti-Islamic mentality. They introduce interest based economy system, but Islam cannot permit it. Practically interest base system has broken the economy of USA and Western countries. They can only overcome this by adapting to Islamic banking system. However, they will not do that.
Western and American countries are influenced by the Zionist lobbies, and increasingly we are seeing India getting closer to Israel. We should refrain from any kind of cooperation from Israel. USA and Israeli governments are propagating and presenting Muslims, as if they are all terrorists.
JIH would urge the government to introduce the interest free banking system in India as well as that will help in the economic growth of the country.
Finally, how do you think JIH can work towards betterment of Hindu-Muslim relations?
Jamat e Islami Hind thinks that only Islam can give the solution for peace. To make a peaceful society we need Islamic ideology. Holy Quran says that we all are sons of Adam (A). Islam always says mankind. Jamat is engaged in spreading the message of Islam to people.
If messages of Islam reach people properly then Hindu-Muslim unity, communal harmony and national integrity will be strong, and India can thus become a symbol of brotherhood, peace and harmony.