“The government having learnt its lesson from the farmers’ movement should try to correct its past mistakes and withdraw CAA and NRC after repealing three farm laws. These laws are against the very idea of citizenship and will divide citizens on the basis of religion. It is against the very spirit of our Constitution. We hope that the Government after taking back three farm laws would step forward to withdraw the CAA and NRC laws,” said Prof. Salim Engineer, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind while addressing media parsons at JIH headquarters on December 4.
The JIH leader, Prof. Salim Engineer, while lauding the manner in which the farmers led the protest against all odds, when all efforts were made to dislodge their protest, has demand from the Government to enact a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the farmers, for it is also a genuine demand.
On the hate atmosphere, attacks on minorities and their religious places, he said, “There are some elements and groups who believe that they are above law and will get away with any kind of violence against minorities because they enjoy the patronage of the ruling class. They are creating hatred and animosity and targeting mosques which we have seen very recently in Gurgaon and elsewhere. The government should take a serious note of it and do as it is responsible to maintain law and order and should not allow any community or group to take law in their own hands and target the Muslims.”
He added, “These fringe groups are not only targeting Muslims but also attacking Christians in various parts of India. These groups are indulging in violence and creating an atmosphere of hate and insecurity for the sake of gaining political mileage and polarising the community.”
While expressing concern on the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and referring to the recent killings of a Dalit family in Prayagraj, UP, he said, if the perpetrators of the crime and violence are from upper class, close to the ruling dispensation and politically important for the government then they are protected. On the contrary, the Government instead of providing justice and relief for the victims are making them accused. He also criticised the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ (NCPCR) report targeting Madrasas and minority-run institutions.
Jamaat leader also pointed out that as elections are very close, efforts would be made to provoke, trap Muslims in particular and minorities in general. Muslims should not get provoked and fall into any kind of trap and avoid knee-jerk reaction and provocative statements which could help the BJP in reaping political gains.
On the Gurgaon Namaz issue, he said, “Muslims have been forced to offer prayers in open public parks and government lands because the government has not allotted them land for a mosque in the New Gurgaon. As many as 19 mosques, big and small, are under illegal possession of others since 1947. Local Muslims feel that the police and administration are not interested in restoring the mosques to the Muslims. “This politics of hate is practised to divert the attention of people from the real issues, especially when elections are around so that the performance of the government and ruling establishment is shifted from development to other emotional issues.”
Mujtaba Farooq, Chairman of the JIH Education Board (Markazi Taleemi Board), while expressing concern on the findings and recommendations of NCPCR Report, said, “We expect the Government to govern as per the doctrine of the Constitution. The Government is trying to build a discourse to abolish the minority rights and are working on the ground. We are discussing the matter with all the stakeholders and various socio-religious organisations to ensure that the rights of minorities are not encroached upon.”
Mr. Farooq criticised the findings and recommendations of NCPCR Report, namely the “Impact of Exemption under Article 15 (5) with regards to Article 21A of the Constitution of India on Education of Children in Minority Communities”, in which the NCPCR has assessed minority schools (schools run by minority organisations) in the country. The NCPCR has claimed that the special exemption that minority schools enjoy from the RTE is “creating a conflicting picture between fundamental rights of children and rights of minority communities”. It also wants all schools under the RTE.