Jamaat-e-Islami Hind disapproves any move to bypass judiciary in Babri Masjid case
New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has not endorsed any move to bypass judiciary in the Babri masjid case. President Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari talked about the position of Muslims regarding Babri Masjid today at the monthly press meet held here at its headquarters. The Jamaat chief said: “we see a lot of posturing and statements regarding bringing about a law in the Babri masjid case and calls for judiciary respecting popular will and giving only suitable judgments that are practicable. We feel that this is incorrect and disapprove any move to bypass the judiciary on the issue of Babri masjid. This will open the door to many excesses and the writ of law in the country will be severely compromised. Is it not noble of the Muslim community to commit itself to abide by the court judgment on the issue of Babri masjid while the other contenders openly challenge the system by saying that they will accept the court judgment only if it goes in their favor? The world will judge as to whom are more law abiding’’.
Earlier while briefing the media, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muhammad Salim Engineer talked about various issues regarding the nation. He expressed concern over recent developments in the nation’s top investigative agency and also reports regarding the rift between the government and the RBI. The JIH Secretary General said: “Jamaat feels that the credibility of the CBI has been compromised with its top officers openly exchanging accusations of corruption. The way in which the government handled the issue has exposed the government’s administrative weakness and disregard of existing norms and consultation process. The blunt criticism by the RBI Deputy Governor in which he warned the government of the disastrous consequences of political interference, shows that all is not well between the country’s central bank and the government. Although the legislature is directly elected by the people, it cannot claim to be the exclusive vanguard of democracy demanding subservience by all other institutions. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind would like to remind the government that it is its bounden duty to abide by the norms and spirit of our Constitution and act in a democratic manner to ensure harmony and balance between the state and its institutions’’. On the issue of Assam NRC he said: ‘’Jamaat-e-Islami Hind welcomes the judgment of the Supreme Court of India which has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections of people whose names were not included in the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to December 15 and also allowed claimants to rely on five additional documents, beside the 10 permitted earlier. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind along with likeminded organizations have appointed 250 Volunteers in 11 districts of Assam which have been most impacted by the NRC process’’. Jamaat welcomed the judgment of the Delhi High Court regarding the Hashimpura massacre and also voiced concern over growing pollution in Delhi and major cities of India.
State and its Institutions
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind expresses concern over recent developments in the nation’s top investigative agency and also reports regarding the rift between the government and the RBI. Jamaat feels that the credibility of the CBI has been severely compromised with its top officers openly exchanging accusations of corruption.The way in which the government handled the issue has exposed the government’s administrative weakness and disregard of existing norms and consultation process with the concerned stakeholders. The blunt criticism by the RBI Deputy Governor in which he warned the government of the disastrous consequences of political interference, shows that all is not well between the country’s central bank and the government. It may be recalled that four judges of the Supreme Court had addressed a press meet early this year and pointed out how democracy is in danger and unless the judiciary is preserved from political interference, democracy may not survive. Jamaat feels that our Constitution has designed our state with a system of checks and balances through various state institutions like the judiciary, the central bank, the Election Commission and at the same time given freedom to non-state actors like NGOs, civil society, human rights organizations and the media to play their respective roles in monitoring and giving their opinion regarding the way in which the law-makers and the government are conducting the affairs of the nation. Although the legislature is directly elected by the people, it cannot claim to be the exclusive vanguard of democracy demanding subservience by all other institutions. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind would like to remind the government that it is its bounden duty to abide by the norms and spirit of our Constitution and act in a democratic manner to ensure harmony and balance between the state and its institutions.
Assam NRC – Supreme Court Judgment
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind welcomes the judgment of the Supreme Court of Indiawhich has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections of people whose names were not included in the final draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) to December 15 and also allowed claimants to rely on five additional documents, beside the 10 permitted earlier. The five documents that NRC state coordinator PrateekHajela had requested the court to exclude from his report are the 1951 NRC, voter lists up to March 24, 1971, citizenship certificates, refugee registration certificates and ration cards issued prior to March 24, 1971. It may be recalled that over 40 lakh people had been excluded from the final NRC draft published on July 30 and have been given an option to file fresh claims.The NRC will include the names of all Indian citizens who have been residing in Assam before March 25, 1971.The application process for the NRC started in May 2015 and a total of 6.5 crore documents were received from 68.27 lakh families across Assam. The Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has appointed 250 Volunteers in 11 districts of Assam which have been most impacted by the NRC process. Check report in attached appendix.
Justice for Hashimpura massacre victims
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind welcomes the judgment of the Delhi High Court regarding the Hashimpura massacre which has sentenced 16 personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) to imprisonment for the remainder of their life. This judgment overturns the shocking acquittal of the accused in 2015 by the trial court despite sound evidence and documentary proof. However Jamaat also rues the fact that it has taken 31 long years for the nation’s judiciary to dispense justice to what can only be described as an unprovoked and vindictive massacre. It may be recalled that on 22 May 1987 the PAC had had rounded up men from the Hashimpura village near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and they were taken away in a truck. After that 42 men were shot in cold blood and their bodies thrown in the canal. About 9 years later the UP Crime branch CID filed a charge-sheet against 19 PAC policemen. The evidence against the accused was provided by five men who survived the shooting and escaped after being thrown in the canal. The Hashimpura massacre is a grim reminder about how a communalized police force carried out the cold blooded murder of its own citizens and exposed the lethargy in our justice-delivery system. Although justice has finally been served, there has been an unacceptable and protracted delay in ensuring that the guilty are punished. It is important for the police forces to be without bias and communal hatred and the criminal justice system to be more efficient. We hope that the government takes up the required steps regarding cleansing the law enforcement agencies of communal bias and sprucing up the judiciary to avoid being subjected to grievances verbalized as ‘’justice delayed is justice denied’’.
Pollution Control
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind expresses alarm and voices grave concern over the deteriorating air-quality in the capital and other major cities of India. The fast paced industrialization and uncontrolled growth in vehicle production and hence vehicular traffic have resulted in a spurt in air pollution and has now reached alarming proportions to the level of the air being declared as ‘’severe’’ implying toxic levels that make the air unfit for breathing. The trinity of globalization, privatization and liberalization has brought about a globalized mono-culture of consumerism and excessive spending on borrowed money. This has skewed economic priorities for developing countries with an increasing carbon footprint and lack of resources, infrastructure and legal framework to control the dangerous levels of pollution that has to be accepted as part of the many negative externalities of fast GDP growth and a burgeoning aspiring middle class. Islam is a religion designed to cater and appeal to the ‘’nature’’ of man and hence its teachings create a balanced society that espouse sustainable economic and consumption policies. Islam teaches moderation and does not approve of a ‘’consumerist’’ approach towards demand side which results in both excessive production and consumption. This heedless growth at any cost is the root cause of pollution climbing to dangerous levels we must exercise utmost vigilancein this regard as individuals, society and state if we are to continue on the path of sustainable development.
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