Jamaat-e-Islami Hind voices concern over Bulandshahr violence, demands judicial probe into death of SHO

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind voices concern over Bulandshahr violence, demands judicial probe into death of SHO

New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has condemned the murder of SHO Subodh Kumar Singh by a violent mob in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a monthly press meet today here, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, acting President, Nusrat Ali said: “It seems the killing of SHO Singh in Bulandshahr was a pre-planned conspiracy. He was killed by a mob inflamed at the discovery of cow carcasses in their district.We demand a judicial probe in the matter. The statement by the Chief Minister of UP that the Bulandshahr cow slaughter should be investigated shows how insensitive and indifferent he is regarding the death of a police officer who sacrificed his life in the line of duty’’. Asked about Jamaat’s position regarding the recent developments related to the Babri Masjid issue, Mr. Nusrat Ali said: “We want the apex court to give its judgment regarding the dispute as soon as possible. The case is related to the dispute over ownership of the title suit and Jamaat is hopeful that the verdict will be in the mosque’s favor. There have been attempts by some personalities and organizations to intervene in the Babri Masjid dispute by becoming self-appointed mediators and these attempts have been going on since a long time. But it is an exercise in futility and has not met with any form of success. We rule out any possibility for any out of the court settlement towards resolution of the Babri Masjid dispute. The best way is to wait for the courts to decide and then the court judgment should be honored by all. It is the government’s responsibility to implement the court judgment. We see that some affiliated outfits of the RSS are pressurizing the government to acquire the land by issuing an ordinance, but this would be against all democratic norms and very damaging to our secular polity.’’

Briefing the media, JIH Secretary General Mohammed Salim Engineer said: “The cold blooded murder of a police officer by an unruly mob, in broad daylight and which was also filmed by the culprits shows the extent of breakdown of law and order in Uttar Pradesh. These anti-social elements who murdered the SHO know that they have the backing of their political masters and will come out on bail sooner or later. The entire blame lies on the shoulders of those who have been peddling the politics of hate, following a divisive agenda and trying to demonize and intimidate the minorities and Dalits, using fascist methodologies. The government has turned a Nelson’s eye to those implementing this communal and divisive plan and this has resulted in mobocracy and a state of lawlessness in large parts of the country. Many of those accused by the police in the murder of SHO Singh are still at large and have not come in the police dragnet. Jamaat demands that they must be arrested immediately to face trial and conviction. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has always cautioned fellow citizens against these fascist and anti-social elements and it is time for the people of India to reject these forces both at the social and political level’’.

Briefing the media about farmers crisis, the Jamaat in a press note issued in the press meet, said, “Jamaat expresses deep concern over the agrarian crisis engulfing our nation and the complete disregard shown by the government and lawmakers towards the problems and issues faced by the farmers of this country. Marginal landholdings and lack of institutional banking facilities results in the exploitation of farmers at the hands of unscrupulous moneylenders who charge exorbitant rates of interest. Jamaat supports the demand for complete loan waiver for farmers. Jamaat feels that this aspect of interest that is the cost of credit is at the core of the agrarian crisis and demands the government to offer interest-free loans to farmers or at least start a pilot project of interest-free loans in the worst affected areas. The recent reports in media of a financial scam resulting from the unprecedented profits made by crop insurance companies in tie-up with various banks even as farmers are suffering from huge financial loss because of poor produce, calls for an independent enquiry into this apparent injustice being done to the farming community. Many parts of the country are facing severe drought and the farmers from these areas are staring at a bleak future with no source of income. Even where the produce has been good the farmers are not getting their promised Minimum Support Price (MSP). The Swaminathan Report recommends that the farmers be given a MSP of 150% of the total cost of production but the government has failed to do so. In the long term, irrigation projects must be implemented to help farmers to overcome the vagaries of a weak monsoon. Warehouse and storage facilities must be expanded and a market mechanism should be evolved that facilitates the farmer to reach the consumer directly without the intervention of middlemen or merchants who grab the lion’s share of their profits. To rejuvenate agrarian sector, Jamaat demands that the recommendations of National Commission for Farmers should be implemented, corporate farming and future selling should be discouraged and a fund should be set up on the lines of calamity fund to help the farmers in case of loss of crops.”