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Jamaat Calls Signing ‘no-links-with-jamaat’ Affidavit Illegal

In a bizarre move, the Government of Rajasthan has decided that sports persons having any connection with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or Jamaat-e-Islami Hind will not be entitled for government awards, reports said on 13 April. Reports confirmed that as per the circular issued by the Ashok Gehlot administration only the sports persons who…

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In a bizarre move, the Government of Rajasthan has decided that sports persons having any connection with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or Jamaat-e-Islami Hind will not be entitled for government awards, reports said on 13 April. Reports confirmed that as per the circular issued by the Ashok Gehlot administration only the sports persons who have signed an affidavit on a Rs. 10 stamp paper saying they don’t have any links with RSS or JIH are being given state government awards.

Weightlifter Vishal Singh was awarded Rs 2 lakh at the Rajasthan government’s sports awards function after winning a state gold medal. But before his moment of glory, he was made to sign an undertaking that says he has nothing to do with the RSS or JIH. “They made me sign an affidavit that said that I didn’t have any connections with the RSS or Jamaat-e-Islami. They said that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t get the money,” Vishal Singh said.

While the sports persons and coaches find the affidavit shocking, the Rajasthan Sports Council says it was only following Gehlot government’s orders. “We as an organisation merely follow orders and directives,” said Shivcharan Mali, Chairperson, State Sports Council, Jaipur.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Rajasthan has protested against the Rajasthan Sports Council move. “It is an illegal move of Rajasthan government,” said the President Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Rajasthan, Er.Khursheed Hussain in a statement issued the same day.

Er. Hussain said his organisation Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has been has been working for propagation of Islamic teachings and serving the society since 1948. He further said that his organisation is striving hard to establish communal amity and cooperation as well as peace and justice at every level in the society. “Therefore, it is strange to ban any association with an organisation like the JIH,” he asserted.

Er. Hussain added that not to say of JIH alone, association with any other constitutionally legal organisation cannot be banned. “If there is some law to this effect, JIH can challenge it in a court of law,” he averred.