The investigation so far into Kasganj violence has moved in single direction and the biased role of administration and the Uttar Pradesh government is clearly visible. We demand judicial inquiry into the Kasganj violence and adequate compensation for those injured and also for the loss of property,” said Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Muhammad Salim Engineer while addressing press meet at JIH headquarters on 3 February.
The Secretary General further said, “A delegation led by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind visited Kasganj recently to assess the situation and get first-hand information from those affected by the violence and arson. Jamaat feels that the law enforcement agencies in Kasganj are having a very biased attitude against the minorities, which is reflected in the substantially high number of arrests of youth from the Muslim community. The CrPC sections invoked against the arrested Muslim youth on charges of inciting and committing violence in Kasganj are also very strict while the real culprits have been let off or charged under very mild CrPC sections so that they can be bailed out easily. We would like to question the Yogi administration on why Tiranga rally was permitted when it was clear that the people behind it were having a communal agenda to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the city and create communal strife. We demand a judicial probe into the Kasganj violence and are not satisfied with the order to conduct a. SIT probe.”
Replying to a question on the recent statements by National Minorities chairman Ghayroul Hassan regarding the Babri Masjid and Madrassas, the JIH Secretary General said: “We are not surprised at such statements which are diagonally opposite of mainstream Muslim community opinion as the NDA Central government has appointed such people to these posts who toe their anti-minority stand.”
Salim Engineer also said that the budgetary allocation for Health and Education has not been satisfactory. Jamaat in the past on many occasions had asked the government to increase the budgetary share on education and health.
While replying to a question, JIH president, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said statements made by some politicians and people from administration on Kasganj or on the law and order situation should be considered seriously. Investigation should be fair and there should not be discrimination on compensation and the real perpetrators should be brought to book immediately.