Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, May 9: With a declared purpose of establishing “closer interaction between the Government and the Muslim Community on issues of larger national interest”, a high-level delegation of Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday. It was Jamiat’s first meeting with PM Modi since he assumed the highest office in May 2014 after the landslide victory in the General Elections.
The basic objective of the meeting was “to establish closer interaction between the Government and the Muslim Community on issues of larger national interest which has been highlighted by the Honorable Prime Minister himself through the slogans like ‘Sab ka Sath Sab ka Vikas and'”, said the delegation, led by Jamiat’s president Maulana Qari Syed Usman Mansoorpuri and general secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP Maulana Mahmood Madani.
“We are of the opinion that most important national issues can be solved through mutual dialogue,” they told the PM who was accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The leaders highlighted the recent murderous attacks on Muslims in the name of cow. They told PM that these “incidents of manslaughter on the pretext of cow slaughter have sent shockwaves of terror and fear through Muslim, Dalit and the weakest sections of the society.”
“We are afraid that the fear and despondent if unchecked could prove highly counterproductive,” said the delegation which also had some eminent personalities from outside Jamiat fold, including Pune-based edupreneur Prof. PA Inamdar and former faculty of Jamia Millia Islmia Prof. Akhtarul Wasey.
Talking to mediapersons outside the Prime Minister’s Office, Jamiat leader Mahmood Madani said: We have emerged very hopeful out of this meeting, hope things will be seen on the ground also.”
While appreciating PM’s last year reprimand to cow vigilantes, the Muslim leaders said that much has to be done on the ground.
“Supremacy of Rule of Law is must for the security, integrity and development of our country. No one is above the law. It must be administered with total impartiality and equality. Your recent reprimand to private groups taking law in their hands and launching murderous attacks for salvaging cows has sent the correct message but must has to be done by law enforcing agencies and the state administration,” they said in a memorandum presented to PM Modi.
The Jamiat leaders also said that the issue of terrorism should not be communalized or politicized.
“There is no doubt that terrorism, fuelled and perpetuated by enemy forces tops our agenda with reference to our national security, peace and stability. There have been attempts to communalize even this issue. We have always condemned such attempt and consistently campaigned at the national level in cooperation with all communities against terrorism as well as religious bigotry and extremism…”
The Muslim delegation told the PM that India’s largest religious minority has some issues and grievances and they should be solved amicably.
“Muslim community has issues and grievances just like any other community which have to be dealt with as per the exigency but this shouldn’t undermine their aspiration to be equal stake holder. These issues should be deliberated upon and solved amicably so that none of the communities have a feeling of discrimination on the basis of religion and they feel their duty and share in the country’s development equally which tallies with identity of our beloved country,” read the memorandum.
A delegation of leaders from the Muslim Community, under the umbrella of Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on May 09, 2017. (Photo – PIB)
The delegation requested PM Modi to create mechanism for access to him or his appointee “for continuing dialogue and closer understanding so that Muslim community is assured of its role and share in the development of our country.”
They expressed hope that “door of mutual communication and closer understanding that has been opened today, will lead to further opportunities and all of us will be able to play our role in the development of our country.”
Talking to IndiaTomorrow.net just before the meeting, a Jamiat official said that his organization had sought appointment for the meeting with PM.
“We had sought appointment to meet Prime Minister. On 6the April this year, Jamiat’s Working Committee had decided to meet PM and chief ministers of various states over the current situation in the country,” said Azeemullah Siddiqui Qasmi, press in-charge of Jamiat.
Asked if leaders of other Muslim organizations were also taken in the delegation, the Jamiat official said: “No, no other Muslim organizations; it is Jamiat’s delegation.”
Key members of delegation:
Maulana Qari Syed Usman Mansoorpuri, President, Jamiat Ulema
Maulana Mahmood Madani, General Secretary, Jamiat Ulema
Dr. Zahir A Kazi, Mumbai
Prof. P A Inamdar, Pune
Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Delhi
Md Atiq, Jodhpur University
Mufti Salman Mansoorpuri
Mufti Iftikhar Ahmad, Karnataka
Maulana Hasib Siddiqi
Maulana Qasmi, Patna
Hafiz Nadeem Siddiqi, Maharashtra
Hafiz Peer Shabbir, Andhra Pradesh
Mufti Shamsuddin
Badruddin Ajmal
Shakeel A. Syed
Niaz Farooqui
Hakimuddin Qasmi
