Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Prof. Mohammad Salim Engineer, while expressing serious concern during a virtual press conference on the issue of spying on eminent citizens and people of three important pillars of democracy said on August 7, “If it is true then it a very big challenge before our country and it is very dangerous for our democracy. The government instead of having dilly-dallying approach on the entire issue should have come forward to inquire into spying on our citizens. Only denial of its involvement is not enough.”
He added, “The denial mode of the government and refusal to debate on the subject along with investigation has raised question mark on the government. As India is a democratic country, the freedom, privacy and respect of each individual should be respected and protected. Spying on citizens is a very dangerous precedent and it should be investigated by a retired sitting judge of the Supreme Court or there should be a parliamentary inquiry into it.”
Addressing the virtual monthly press briefing, Secretary of JIH Women’s Department, Mrs. Rahmathunnisa informed media persons about her visit to the house of a nine-year-old Dalit girl, from Purani Nangal village near Delhi Cantonment, who was allegedly raped and killed. While condemning the horrific incident, she said, it is a disgraceful incident for our country. She condemned the brutal rape and murder of the girl and demanded stringent punishment to the perpetrators at the earliest.
She added, “As you all know after the Nirbhaya case of December 2012 the issue of rape and punishment was brought to the forefront. There have been a number of legislations related to rape and sexual crimes against women. The government initiated fast track courts but despite that the number of rapes and crimes against women continued to increase. Latest National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) data reveals rising crime against women. According to it, nearly four women are raped every hour, while two women are molested every three minutes in India.”
While recalling the Nirbhaya case, she said, the JIH had given its suggestions to the Justice Verma Committee for containing the growing incidents of rape in the country. We support some of the committee’s recommendations. However, we hope the government wakes up to its duty to provide safety and security to its citizens, especially women, and lives up to its slogan of “Beti Bachao.”
Also while rejecting the announcement to observe August 1 as Muslim Women’s Rights Day by the Ministry of Minority to celebrate the second anniversary of the passage of the Triple Talaq law, she said, “We condemn this move as a mockery of women’s rights. The government does not appear to be sincere in its concern for Muslim women. Had its concern been genuine, it would have not wrongly incarcerated so many Muslim youths and paid mere lip service to the question of the education of Muslim girls.”
Earlier, speaking on the threat perception of the third wave and the way forward, the Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said, “It is being said the possibility of the third wave is imminent and it is likely to be more dangerous than the second wave. While referring to the damages done, loss of life, failures and mismanagement during the second wave, he asked the government to take serious efforts, improve medical facilities, enhance healthcare infrastructure manifold. The efforts we are making to fight the pandemic is not satisfactory and in accordance to the challenges posed by the pandemic. We would also like to suggest to the government to revise its budget for the centre and the states and increase the budget for the healthcare, keeping in mind the challenges faced during the pandemic. Vaccination drive should be expedited and the government should ensure that vaccine is available to all free of cost without any further delay.”
The Jamaat also expressed concern over the reported crackdown on Mohammed Ali Jauhar University, Rampur. “To disturb such an important place of learning is not in the best interests of the students and the education environment of our country. The government must find a solution to this problem and ensure that the education of minorities and the marginalised is not disturbed,” said the Jamaat.