Conspiracies are being hatched everywhere to terrorise minorities and especially Muslims, said Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has moved the Supreme Court seeking rehabilitation of people whose homes and shops were flattened by local authorities in the Nuh district of Haryana following communal violence in the state.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind said in a statement on Tuesday that it has appealed to the top court for the rehabilitation of the victims of the “bulldozer operation” carried out by local authorities, compensation and accommodation in transit houses and action against guilty officials.
Calling the bulldozer operation illegal, it said that razing the houses of the accused is like punishment before conviction and it is illegal.
Jamiat commended the suo moto cognisance taken by the Punjab and Haryana High Court which stopped the bulldozer action in Nuh. However, the court did not order rehabilitation of those displaced and compensation to them, Jamiat said.
It said the court did not order action against the erring officers also.
The Muslim body also requested the apex court to issue directions to all the states to refrain from illegal demolitions and take strict action against the erring authorities.
It further requested the court to direct that no house should be demolished without notice even if its construction was illegal. It is necessary to complete the legal process before carrying out the demolition process, it said.
The petition further stated that in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat and other states demolition operations were carried out last year despite a stay and strong verbal comments from the Supreme Court. But, it said, due to the absence of written directives from the Supreme Court, incidents like Nuh are still taking place.
Separately, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani expressed his deep concern and sorrow over the brutal game of hatred and sectarianism that has been going on across the country for some time now. He said that a black storm of religious extremism and hatred is being blown across the country. “Conspiracies are being hatched everywhere to terrorise minorities and especially Muslims,” he said.
“Provocations are taking place in Muslim localities and in front of mosques; they are waving sticks and swords and shouting extremely offensive slogans, and the police remain silent spectators,” he said.
Maulana Madani said Muslims are being harassed by sectarian forces and the central government maintains a stoic silence.
Maulana Madani said the manner in which the Punjab and Haryana High Court took notice of the bulldozer operation in and around Mewat is commendable.
He further said that when the government fails to fulfill its constitutional responsibility and remains silent even after listening to the voices of the oppressed, the courts are the only hope for justice.
