Faisal Fareed : Lucknow, Fri Nov 29 2013, 05:37 hrs
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has roped in Gujarat-based cleric Shafi Madani for striking a truce between Jats and Muslims so that the latter who were displaced in the recent Muzaffarnagar riots return to their villages.
Madani had been crucial in convincing Muslims to return home after the Gujarat riots of 2002.
“We had carried out extensive relief operations after the Gujarat riots. We facilitated the return of nearly 10,000 Muslim families to their homes,” he said.
Shafi Madani said Muslims should be motivated to return home instead of setting up new colonies. “It has been our experience that Muslims who returned home are more prosperous than those who preferred new colonies.”
Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind (JUH), headed by Arshad Madani, is setting up new colonies for riot victims.
At present, Shafi Madani, who is the national secretary of JIH, is on a three-day visit to Muzaffarnagar and has met several Jat leaders, including Baliyan Khaap choudhary and Bharitya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Naresh Tikait.
Tikait had earlier suggested to hold a joint meeting with the clerics of Islamic seminary at Deoband and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) in order to restore peace but did not receive any response from any quarter.
Shafi Madani met Tikait at the latter’s ancestral village Sisauli in Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday. This was the first meeting of a Muslim group with the Jat leadership after the Muzaffarnagar riots.
“I met Naresh Tikait and discussed issues related to the return of Muslims. He assured all help and safety to Muslims. Nearly 200 families in his village have already returned. He is even ready to seek forgiveness if it helps to restore peace,” he said.
Shafi also went to Meerut to meet other Jat leaders. “Due to our confidence building exercises, the Jat leaders are coming forward themselves,” he said.
Shafi Madani also claimed that even the other community has apprehensions about Muslims. “We need to admit there may be bad elements in our community also. Culprits from our side should also be punished,” he said.
He claimed that the feedback from his visit, which ends Friday, will be intimated to the JIH leadership. “We will hold bigger meetings with Jat leaders in the coming days.”
Founded in 1941, JIH is one of the largest cadre-based organisations of Muslims in the country that concentrates on preaching Islam. It also has a political wing, Welfare Party of India , which fought the 2012 Assembly elections in UP.
Shafi Bhai,
ASAK,
1. Great service to the riot victims. Allah will accept your deeds, insha Allah.
2. Shame on you, the muslim MLAs of UP, you are in a big number, but weight less, use less like dust. A curse of Allah on you.