Demanding the Union Government to take immediate action to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Manipur, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) also expressed concerns over increasing incidents of Islamophobia in educational institutions, and the Government’s move to introduce a new Data Protection Bill and new criminal laws, replacing existing IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act. JIH leaders were addressing media persons at its headquarters on September 2.
Recently, a JIH delegation, led by its Vice-President Prof. Salim Engineer, and National Secretary Maulana Shafi Madani, visited the violence-hit Manipur.
Shedding light on an alarming humanitarian crisis in Manipur, Prof. Salim said their findings exposed the grim reality on the ground. About 65,000 people in Manipur are currently homeless, among them 14,000 innocent children. The crisis has led to the tragic loss of nearly 200 lives and inflicted immeasurable economic damage. The region remained deeply scarred by ethnic divisions, which had not only hindered movement between the valley and hilly areas but also fuelled the wanton destruction of homes and businesses along ethnic lines.
The JIH Vice-President asked the Prime Minister why he is yet to visit the state despite the severity of the crisis and why the Parliament is yet to hold a comprehensive discussion on the matter.
Maulana Shafi Madani lamented that the situation took a turn for the worse following a destructive rally in Churachandpur on May 3, followed by the distressing circulation of a video depicting the sexual assault of tribal women.
Maulana Madani said, “Unfortunately, progress towards resolving this crisis has been minimal, and ethnic tensions continue to fester. Despite a visit by the Home Minister in May, displaced individuals remain in a state of uncertainty, and sporadic outbreaks of violence persist. In the face of these challenges, the JIH appeals to the Central government for immediate intervention.”
Expressing grave concerns over the three new bills introduced in the Lok Sabha intended to replace the IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act, JIH national secretary K.K. Suhail commented that while some positive aspects were present, such as capital punishment for mob lynching, there was a legitimate fear that those sweeping changes, ambiguous definitions, and potential misuse of those laws could disrupt the existing legal framework and undermine civil liberties.
Raising apprehensions regarding the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, Mr. Suhail cautioned that it could lead to increased government surveillance and a compromise of citizens’ privacy. “Provisions within the bill, such as the transfer of user data abroad and the granting of government powers to access personal data without consent, raise significant concerns about civil liberties and may weaken the Right to Information law,” he added.
Strongly condemning the rising incidents of Islamophobia within Indian educational institutions, Prof. Salim Engineer said those incidents spanned from discrimination to physical violence against Muslim, Dalit, and tribal students. He called upon the government to address this pressing social issue through appropriate legislation and robust public awareness campaigns.
Extending warm welcome to the G20 Summit in New Delhi and commending India’s role as the host, Prof. Salim emphasised the urgent need for India to improve its rankings in various global indices, address wealth inequality, protect religious minorities, and enhance public health and education.