New Delhi: In a press conference held at the headquarters of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, JIH President, Syed Sadatullah Husaini, discussed the recent election results in Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, the increasing violence against Muslims and places of worship, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, and the situation in the Middle East. He emphasized, “The new governments formed in Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana must focus on the real issues facing the public, economic development, and restoring the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir. Their work should be for the progress and prosperity of all, without any discrimination.”

Husaini further highlighted the alarming increase in violence against Muslims and attacks on their places of worship. “False accusations are being made against Muslim youth, leading to violence, and mosques and other religious sites are being demolished. Recently, in Gir Somnath district, a 500-year-old cemetery, mosque, and shrines were destroyed,” he noted. Speaking about hate speech, the President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said, “Derogatory comments are being made against the Prophet (PBUH) of Islam to hurt the sentiments of Muslims, and the lack of action against the culprits is only emboldening them. In these circumstances, it is the responsibility of the country’s leaders, intellectuals, and religious figures to raise their voices and firmly respond to those spreading hate in the name of religion and culture.”

On the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, Husaini remarked, “Holding parliamentary and state assembly elections simultaneously will sideline the specific issues of individual states, weaken the federal structure, and diminish the influence of regional parties. Moreover, it will reduce the pressure on the government to remain accountable to the public, which is detrimental to democracy. Jamaat strongly opposes this idea.”

Addressing the situation in the Middle East, he said, “The situation in the Middle East has become extremely alarming, with the possibility of a devastating war between Israel and Iran looming large. Such a war would be catastrophic, not just for the region but for the global economy. It seems that this conflict is being stoked as part of an agenda to eliminate the possibility of a two-state solution for Palestine and to further destabilize the region. Israel’s genocidal war has been going on for over a year now, resulting in thousands of deaths, especially in Gaza, where more than 40,000 people, mostly women, children, and the elderly, have been killed. Apart from killing innocent civilians, Israel has also been targeting leaders of the resistance movements. This is blatant terrorism and a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The United Nations and the global community must use their influence to stop Israel’s terrorism. Sanctions should be imposed, and Israel must be held accountable for its war crimes.” Jamaat-e-Islami Hind urged the UN Security Council to form an allied force to immediately enforce a ceasefire and neutralize Israel, thereby preventing further destruction. The organization also called on the Indian government to break its silence and work with moderate Arab states to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for peace and stability in the region.

Also present at the conference were Jamaat’s Vice President, Salim Engineer, and National Secretary, Shafi Madani, who were part of the delegation that visited Somnath to assess the demolitions. Salim Engineer presented the details of the illegal demolitions to the journalists, describing how several shrines, tombs, a mosque, an Eidgah, and a cemetery spread across 200 acres were unlawfully razed. He called for a halt to such demolitions, the restoration of the religious sites, and strict action against the responsible officials.