Legal action is necessary against police officials guilty of Haldwani riots. We first fought for the freedom of the country, now it seems we have to fight for the protection of freedom.

• The meeting of Working Committee of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind concludes

• Legal action is necessary against the erring police officers of Haldwani firing

• First we fought for the freedom of the country, now it seems we have to fight for the protection of freedom: Maulana Arshad Madani

• Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind's working committee announced an immediate relief of Rs. 2 lakh per person among the deceased of the Haldwani police firing

New Delhi: 17 February 2024

Today, an important meeting of Jamiat Ulama Hind working committee was held at the head office of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind under the chairmanship of Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema Hind. Pondering upon the current situation of the country, the participants of the meeting expressed their serious concern on increasing sectarianism, extremism, deterioration of law and order, discrimination against minorities and Muslims on the basis of religion, protection of wakf properties, the ongoing campaign of sectarians against mosques and tombs in spite of the places of worship Act, police firing in Haldwani and unilateral action against Muslims and Israel's terrorism in Palestine, and many burning issues like these were discussed. In the meeting, resolutions were also passed regarding Gyan vapi Jama Masjid case and the Protection of Places of Worship Act 1991, and it was said that in the Babri Masjid Ram Janmabhoomi case, the Supreme Court gave its verdict regarding the case by using its powers, which the Muslims of the country took it as a bitter drink, and believed that now peace and order will be established in the country, But after this verdict, the morale of the sectarians of the country became high, and they have started making their claims on about two thousand Muslim places of worship like Jama Masjid Banaras Gyan Vapi, Shahi Eid Gah Mathura, Teli Wali Mosque. In the Babri Masjid case, Supreme Court has mentioned the importance of the Protection of Places of Worship Act, 1991. This law is said to be better in favor of the country; but due to its non-effective implementation, the lower courts are hearing cases and the archeology department is also giving permission for excavation, which is against this law. In the Babri Masjid case, Supreme Court rejected the legality of the archaeological report. It is noteworthy that the petition filed on 7 October 2020 by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind for the protection and effective implementation of the Protection of Places of Worship Act is under hearing, the court has issued a notice to the central government but the central government has not yet submitted an affidavit. In the meeting, it was announced that an immediate relief of two lakh rupees per person to the deceased of Haldwani police firing, and 25 lakh rupees for the relief work. The legal panel is discussing for legal proceedings against the guilty officers, while a demand was also made in the meeting regarding the government compensation to the deceased. According to the ongoing agenda for the Working Committee, the recommendations of the Working Committee of the state units of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind for the next term of the presidency of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind were reviewed, all the state units unanimously recommended the name of Maulana Arshad Madani only, so the Working Committee of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind announced the name of Hazrat Maulana Arshad Madani for the presidency of the next term and the Working Committee today also announced the membership of this term from February 16 to May 16 a cross country.

In his presidential address on this occasion, Maulana Madani said that the conditions of the country at this time are very dangerous, which is unprecedented in the past. The incidents that are happening one after the other after the change of power, this leaves no doubt that India is in the grip of fascism. Sectarian and anarchist forces have became more powerful. He added that there is no need to repeat what has been happening to the minorities, especially the Muslims, over the past few years. Efforts are being made not only to incite the Muslims by creating a new conflict, but also to marginalize them. But despite all this, the patience and forbearance shown by the Muslims is unparalleled. Maulana Madani said that we have to show patience in the same way, the sectarian forces can try to incite and provoke with various pretexts, because the parliament election is going to be held. Maulana Madani said that earlier the election was fought on the basis of basic issues like constructive program, employment and education, but unfortunately the sectarian forces have given religious intoxication to the people, now the election is being fought only on the basis of sectarianism. He said that first we sacrificed for the freedom of the country and now we have to sacrifice for the protection of this freedom. If we do not do this, the day is not far when even speaking will be considered a serious crime. He said that the India dreamed of by our elders who sacrificed in the freedom struggle is not the India at all. Our forefathers dreamed of an India in which all the people could live in peace and harmony irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. Expressing concern over the attitude of the governments regarding the current political and social situation of the country, he said that the work that used to be done by the courts is now being done by the governments. It seems that the rule of law has ended in India, the words that come out of their mouths are the law, and the order on the spot to raze the houses has become the new law of land. In these circumstances, we turned to the Supreme Court to give justice to the oppressed of the entire country and to save the country's constitution and democracy and to maintain the supremacy of the law. But alas, when the distinguished legal experts and retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Court are disappointed regarding the orders of the courts and especially the Supreme Court, whether it is Babri Masjid or Jama Masjid Gyan Vapi, or Article 370, then People like us must be worried. Despite all these, the courts are the last resort for us.

Condemning the brutality and cruelty of the police in Haldwani, he has demanded the Uttarakhand government not only to give adequate compensation to the innocent people who were killed by police bullets in Haldwani, but also to give a government job to one of their family members. So that the affected families can be saved from starvation and devastation. He also demanded strict legal action against the police personnel who fired indiscriminately on the crowd. He said that we do not want to get into the legal and illegal debate. but all we know is that there was an unwarranted firing, due to which six innocent people lost their lives and two people are still struggling for life and death in hospitals. Maulana Madani said that the people who were subjected to inhuman brutality, even six such persons who were labors by profession and were returning home after finishing their work, were shot dead. Now they are not only being arrested by putting all the blame for riots and violence on them, Rather, compensation for damages has also been demanded from them, where is this justice? The big question is who is responsible for the loss of six precious lives and the loss of local residents? And shouldn't there be an investigation and shouldn't it be fined? He said that the entire Haldwani city is settled on the government land, in such a case, if the mosque and madrassa can be declared illegal and demolished, why can the places of worship of other religions located there be called legal? It is clear that this was done on the basis of religious bias. And its purpose is to harm the communal harmony of the city, and threaten Muslims. He also said that if the state government does not take any action against the police personnel and does not announce adequate compensation for the victims, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will soon approach the court against it.

Expressing deep grief and concern over the ongoing genocide in Palestine, he said that the shameful thing is that the United Nations and the international community have completely failed to stop this blatant cruelty. In this regard, if the Muslim countries do not wake up for the settlement of Palestine, it will be too late. The brave people of Palestine who have been risking their lives for years are for the freedom of their homeland and the recovery of the First Qibla. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind pays tribute to the courage and patience of the oppressed Palestinians and prays that May Allah increase the courage of these warriors and defeat the terrorist Israel and help the warriors, Amen.

At the end, Maulana Madani said that if the fascist forces and their supporters think that Muslims will become victims of this oppression, then it is their delusion. This is our country, we were born here, our forefathers have not only played an important role in the development of this country but also sacrificed their lives for its freedom. That's why we cannot tolerate injustice, discrimination and oppression of any community, not only for Muslims.

In addition to the President Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Vice President Maulana Abdul Aleem Farooqui, General secretary Mufti Syed Masoom Thaqib, Vice President Maulana Syed Asjad Madani, Mufti Ghiyasuddin Rahmani Hyderabad, Maulana Badr Ahmad Mujbibi Patna, Maulana Abdullah Nasir Benaras, Qari Shamsuddin Kolkata, Mufti Ashfaq Ahmad Azamgarh, Haji Salamatullah Delhi, Maulana Fazlur Rahman Qasmi and Mufti Abdul Qayyum Mansoori from Gujarat attended the meeting, and Maulana Muhammad Rashid Rajasthan, Maulana Muhammad Muslim Qasmi Delhi, Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Bhopal, Advocate Shahid Nadeem Mumbai, Mufti Abdul Raziq Mazahiri Delhi, Maulana Abdul Qayyum Malegaon, Mufti Habibullah Jodhpur, etc. Participated as special invitees. The meeting ended with the President's prayer.

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