The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) on Saturday, 28 May, announced that it will be holding "thousands of Sadbhawana sansads to unite the society against hatred and Islamophobia," in response to "the growing tide of hatred spread by the Dharma Sansad."
The announcement came at the end of the first day of its two-day national convention organised in Uttar Pradesh's Deoband to discuss a variety of issues facing the Muslim community today, the most pertinent being the Gyanvapi row.
The convention, being held at the Deoband Eidgah ground in Saharanpur district, has thousands of JUH members from across the country participating.
'Govt Has Left No Stone Unturned To Poison Majority': JUH
The JUH passed a resolution on day one talking about the ways to counter growing Islamophobia in the country.
"In the name of clothing, food, faith, festival or language and economy etc Indians are pitted against their own countrymen...And the most unfortunate part of this sad saga is that the government of the day is patronizing these destructive activities. It has left no stone unturned in poisoning the minds and hearts of the members of the majority community," the resolution said.
The JUH also hit out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for "inciting" the majority.
"It should be borne in mind that maintaining one's political dominance by inciting the religious sentiments of the majority community is a grave disservice to the country. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind view that the way national unity is being sabotaged in the name of fake nationalism is not only harming the Muslim alone but is causing a grave threat to the security and integrity of the country," the body said in a statement.
JUH To Set Up Justice Cell for Muslims
The body also announced its decision to set up a permanent department called the "Justice and Empowerment Initiative for Indian Muslims," which will work "with prime objective to develop an strategy for the establishment of peace and justice in the country."
JUH also demanded that a separate law be enacted to "specifically punish the instigators of violence" aimed to hurt the minority.
The body said Islamophobia has become commonplace today and that "the reins of the country have fallen into the hands of those people who want to alter the centuries-old identity of the country. To them our shared culture and tradition have a little value. They hanker for power only."
'Refrain From Discussing Gyanvapi in Public'
The convention also focused on issues of education and development of Muslim youth.
Before the convention began, Miyaz Ahmad Farukhi, JUH national secretary, told the media, "There are some issues that have captured national attention. The issue surrounding the religious places of worship is one such matter. However, in reality it's not the biggest issue, it is only being presented as such. So we need to remind people to not lose sight of the real issues and work on them as well."
"Abusing people of other communities in Dharam Sansad has become common. It's a way to scare and threaten. But the Muslim community doesn't need to get scared. Many people are also trying to provoke us. We need to tell our youth to not fall for it," he added.
When asked if the JUH convention will pass any declaration on the Gyanvapi mosque row, Farukhi said that the matter was sub judice.
"Let this matter be discussed in court. Don’t bring this on the streets or in TV debates," he said.
Farukhi's comment is in line with the position that the JUH took earlier on the Gyanvapi issue.
"Ulama, Scholars, speakers & TV debaters are urged to refrain from participating in TV debates & discussions on this issue," the JUH had said in a statement last week.
"Muslims Organizations should not interfere in Gyanvapi Masjid Case-Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind...Public demonstrations should be avoided," the statement had further said.
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