New Delhi, 2^nd November: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind today gave a clear call to the people of the country to defeat communal forces in the upcoming elections for five state assemblies and Lok Sabha. In the monthly press briefing at the JIH headquarters here on Saturday, Ameer (National President) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari made the statement and noted that communalism is a big threat to the democratic and pluralistic structure of the country, and votaries of fascism must be kept from power. JIH chief was accompanied by General Secretary Nusrat Ali and national secretaries Mohammad Salim Engineer, Mohammad Ahmed and Ejaz Ahmed Aslam.

“Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is of the view that in the prevailing situation in the country, communalism and fascism is a big threat which has now assumed dangerous proportions. The menace has endangered democracy and secular ethos of the country, pluralistic structure of the society and existence and identity of minorities,” said Ameer-e Jamaat and informed the pressmen that Jamaat has decided to awaken the people to use their vote with full responsibility in the elections and vote for the candidates who have good character and clean image in the society and can combat communalism and fascism. He further said that in the election-bound states, Jamaat will release people’s manifesto to explain Jamaat’s stand and create awakening in the people. With the help of people, workers of Jamaat will evaluate the candidates and present to them the manifesto and demands. After thorough assessment, they will decide to support those candidates who can defeat candidates of fascist forces and who are also on higher moral grounds among the existing candidates.

While condemning the bomb blasts that are claiming innocent lives, Jamaat leaders said such blasts have always been used by some political parties for electoral gains. They also said that communal riots are also being engineered and executed for the similar ulterior motives. Jamaat demanded thorough probe into the Patna blasts and stringent punishment for the culprits. They condemned media trial of a particular community following every terror blasts.

Jamaat leaders expressed serious concerns on the situations in Egypt, Syria and Bangladesh. They demanded the world community including India to make serious efforts to restore and protect democracy in these countries.

 

Text of the Full Statement

1.      Assembly Elections in Five States and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind

The Assembly elections in five states – Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram– are round the corner. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind thinks that these elections are very important not only for the states but also for the parliamentary elections due in 2014 because the results of the assembly elections will influence the parliamentary elections. Only state issues won’t be raised during the assembly elections but the national issues and problems will also be discussed in the election campaign.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is of the view that in the prevailing situation in the country, communalism and fascism is a big threat which has now assumed dangerous proportions. The menace has endangered democracy and secular ethos of the country, pluralistic structure of the society and existence and identity of minorities. The second big threat, in Jamaat’s view, is value-less polity of the country and growing influence of corrupt and criminal minded people and business houses in the politics. Besides, inflation, poverty, unemployment and un-fulfilment of basic necessities are also important issues confronting the masses of the country.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has decided to awaken the people to use their vote with full responsibility in the elections. It will tell the people to vote for the candidates who have good character and clean image in the society and can combat communalism and fascism. In the election-bound states, Jamaat will release people’s manifesto to explain Jamaat’s stand and create awakening in the people. Contacts would be made with states leaders in this regard. With the help of people, workers of Jamaat will evaluate the candidates and present to them the manifesto and demands. After thorough assessment, they will decide to support those candidates who can defeat candidates of fascist forces and who are also on higher moral grounds among the existing candidates. Jamaat will take its decisions to the masses and will also guide them. It will try that secular votes are not divided, communal and fascist parties are kept from power, conducive atmosphere for value-based politics is created and corrupt people and criminals do not get elected.

Meanwhile, members of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, both at state and local levels, will hold meetings with leaders and candidates of non-communal parties, intellectuals, secular and peace-loving individuals and masses. They will strive to build public opinion in favor of the above-mentioned principles and values so that people could cast their vote with full responsibility, democracy is strengthened in the country and communal and fascist mindset could be defeated.

2.      Politics of Bomb Blasts

The bomb blasts that claimed several innocent lives and left many others wounded at the political rally of BJP in Patna are highly condemnable. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemned the blasts immediately and demanded stringent punishment for the culprits.

It is necessary for the existence of democracy in India that every type of violence is checked and peace and harmony are maintained at every cost. It is unfortunate that such bomb blasts are executed particularly before elections and political parties use them for their purposes. Similarly, communal riots are also engineered and used to influence the elections. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind thinks that instigating violence, communalism and sectarian bias and using them for political purposes are extremely harmful for the country and democracy.

Punishing the culprits after honest probes of such incidents is necessary. At the same time, harassment and arrest of innocents and attempts to malign a particular community cannot be acceptable. Some probes in the past have established that some organized groups, and political and communal elements are behind such bomb blasts or they try to get political mileage out of them.

Now that a political party has made Narendra Modi its prime ministerial candidate it is worth recalling some past incidents. In Gujarat, several people were arrested saying that they had come to kill Mr. Modi, who was the chief minister of the state, and many of them were killed in fake encounters. Sohrabuddin and his wife Kausar Bi, young Mumbai college girl Ishrat Jahan, Jawed Pillai of Kerala and two other youths probably from Kashmir but were declared to be Pakistanis – all these people were killed. After several years, people of the country came to know that these killings were done to increase the popularity of Mr. Modi. For these fake encounters, three IPS officers of higher ranks are in jail for the last six years and facing trials.

Different things about Patna blasts are appearing in the media and attempts to malign a particular community are being made. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind demands that after thorough probe into the Patna blasts real culprits should be arrested and sternly punished according to law. Media should refrain from sensationalism and help investigators in right probe.

3) Situation in the Muslim World

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind expresses its concern at the gravity of present situation in the Muslim World. Muslim masses are facing atrocities in several countries. Egypt has not yet returned to normalcy. President Mohammad Morsi, elected in the first ever free polls after the long reign of dictatorship, is still behind bars. The present military government continues unleashing brutalities on the people. Newspapers and media have been robbed of freedom. Thousands of members of Ikhwanul Muslimoon (Muslim Brotherhood) have been killed and thousands others imprisoned. The entire civilized world and India must play an important role in restoring democracy in Egypt.

The situation in Syria is still volatile. Muslim countries, particularly their organization OIC should make serious efforts to restore normalcy and democracy in Syria.

Our neighbouring country Bangladesh will hold its national elections next year. The way top leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat Islami and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are being prosecuted and awarded sentences by the so-called International War Crimes Tribunal is a serious issue and runs contrary to the basic principles of justice. Consistent efforts are being made there to suppress the opposition parties. Muslim nations and Bangladesh’s neighbouring democratic country like India should raise their voice against the undemocratic and oppressive measures.

Anti-Islam forces are hatching conspiracies to promote Shia-Sunni differences and sectarian infighting in the Muslim Ummah. Muslims of the entire world, particularly the educated and intellectual class should strive for creating unity and cooperation in the Ummah, so that  The Muslim Ummah gets strong and spreads Islam’s messages of worship of God and love for humanity. It is the special responsibility of Indian Muslims to follow Islam, present its practical example before the fellow countrymen and pray for the Muslims of the world.