Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Karnataka on Thursday stated that although the country has completed 75 years of independence, its current situation has several areas of serious concern.
In a press conference held on Thursday in Bengaluru, JIH Karnataka spoke about the lawlessness and illusion of justice in the country, increasing polarization and communalism and atrocities on women and Dalits.
While lauding the nation’s achievements and accomplishments, the Islamic organization said that people need to take note of challenges which might otherwise “throw the country in turmoil and chaos.”
Speaking of the lawlessness and illusion of justice, it said “the spate of murders from Belgaum, Nargund, Shimoga and Bangalore to Mangalore is a grim reminder of the law and order situation in our state. The common man, especially the senior citizens feel very unsafe.”
Polarisation and Communalism
JIH asserted the recent harassment and cases against Altnews Zubair and Teesta Setalvad are glaring examples of increasing polarisation and communalism.
“The government in its blind pursuit of political goals is continuing its policy of victimization of minorities, fanning hatred, raising divisive and emotional issues and thus disturbing the age-old environment of peace and harmony in our state. Notwithstanding the recent upheavals of hate on hijab, Azhan, Halal meat, economic boycott, etc. Fresh attempts have been made to encroach upon the autonomy of madrassas,” JIH said in a statement.
Atrocities on Women and Dalits
Women and weaker section sections continue to suffer discrimination, injustice, marginalization, and underrepresentation they fare poorly in various indices relating to health, education, hygiene, economy, quality equality and justice etc, it said.
Condemning the release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, the Muslim organization said, “The recent release of the mass rapists of Bilkis Bano has shaken the moral conscience against the country. Protests continue till date and we join in handed the culprits be re-arrested and confidence restored in the affected innocence.”
It further condemned the killing of a Dalit boy for drinking water, saying that this shows the depths of untouchability and castism in our advanced country.
Ensuing Elections Have the Right Priorities
Highlighting that elections are an important milestone in democracies, JIH said the fastest forces in blind pursuit of power, pose a great threat to the democratic institutions, plurality, federalism, constitutional spirit and values of our country. A false sense of nationalism has been promoted to cover the failures and very serious economic and economic and social problems.
“We call upon all countrymen to arise and save the real idea of India as envisioned by our forefathers, the true architects of the constitution and free India,” it said adding that Jamaat e Islami Hind in cooperation with all the like-minded intellectuals groups NGOs and other organization is going to launch and campaign to educate the electorate in Karnataka about the real issues and stakes involved.
Speaking to the Cognate about the Chamarajapet Idgah Maidan controversy, Dr Mohammed Saad Belagami said, “Whether the Wakf institution has lacked in pursuing the matter this is a debatable issue. Obviously, the papers should have been corrected and Khata and every other document should have been set right much before. Maybe there has been some delay or some drawback in this matter. But we have to look forward and try and see how best we can settle this issue and the nefarious designs behind this of criminalizing and polarizing the society, especially with the elections in mind is what is needed to be taken cognizance of,” he said when asked if the Wakf board did not take the matter seriously and submit the required documents to claims their property.
Dr Belgami said people need to be educated that this is a divisive and polarizing agenda of the government. “We should not fall prey to it. People to People contacts have always been cordial and peaceful. So this atmosphere of harmony and trust between the communities should not be disturbed. “
Speaking on the release of 11 convicts of the Bilkis Bano case, Tasneem Farzana JIH Bangalore metro city president of the women’s wing said, “We have seen that the rape convicted are hanged or killed in an encounter. Even Bilkis Bano hoped that she would get the same justice and knocked on the doors of the Court. But in this case, we can see that the attitude of the administration even from the beginning was to try and save the culprits. They even sheltered the culprits. “
This heart aching incident, she said is not just a shock for Bilkis but for the sake of humanity and for every woman, “it is a blemish that the nation did not save their dignity.”
Farzana told The Cognate, “We all stand with Bilkis Bano and also Zakria Jaffry who is also seeking justice but she didn’t get justice. We will raise our voice against the injustices against women.”
Sheikh Haroon Bangalore City president of JIH strongly condemned the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case and also the arrest of Teesta Setalvad. “Those people (11 convicted) should be arrested back and put behind the jail. And the people who are fighting for the rights of the weaker sections of society should not be harassed. They should not be arrested under false agenda and put behind the Jail.”
“All those people who are striving hard for the reality of the society and putting the fact before the society and doing great contribution to save the country from political agenda the impact should not be harassed,” he said referring to Mohammed Zubair of Alt News. “We all know that fake news is really very harmful, not just for the specific community of the country, but the whole nation as well as toward the image and the perception of the country. In the global era, people like Zubair are doing a great job of exposing the fake news.”
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
