The organisation also welcomed the Supreme Court’s observations on the troubling trend of ‘bulldozer justice’ in several states
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), a premier Muslim organisation in the country, has condemned the rise in hate crimes, the derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Islam by a Hindu religious leader, and the detention of 28 Bengali Muslims from Barpeta district in Assam. The organisation also welcomed the Supreme Court’s observations on the troubling trend of state and local authorities demolishing properties of those accused of crimes in the name of “bulldozer justice”.
Addressing the media at the organisation’s headquarters in the national capital on Saturday, the Jamaat’s Vice President Prof. Salim Engineer expressed disappointment over an increase in incidents of hate crimes and inflammatory speeches He highlighted several disturbing examples, including communal attacks on Muslims in Ranirbazar, Tripura; the lynching of a migrant worker in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri over suspicions of beef consumption; the tragic killing of 19-year-old Aryan Mishra by cow vigilantes in Faridabad; the brutal killing of Nazir Khan and the assault on Sultan Shaikh in Phulambri tehsil, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; and the attack on 72-year-old Haji Ashraf Maniyar aboard the Dhule-CSMT Express. Prof. Salim emphasised that these cases represent just a fraction of the hundreds of hate crimes occurring nationwide.
He criticised anti-social elements and cow vigilante groups who commit these hate crimes, noting that they target the Muslim community with impunity, supported by police and political patrons. Prof. Salim lamented the government’s silence and failure to act against these groups. He condemned these actions as a denigration of the country’s legal and constitutional framework and urged the government, law enforcement agencies, and judiciary to take immediate and decisive action. He also called for a collective effort, including media involvement, to remind the government of its duties and to restore peace and order in the country.
Responding to concerns about rising hate incidents in Uttarakhand and threats against minority Muslims in the hill regions, Prof. Salim urged the judiciary to take immediate action. He also expressed sorrow over the killing of 19-year-old Aryan Mishra in Haryana by communal elements and cow vigilantes who mistakenly believed he was Muslim.
The Jamaat official demanded legal action and immediate arrest of Ramgiri Maharaj for making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Islam. He said the sant’s comments have offended Muslim sentiments and contributed to communal rifts, suggesting a possible conspiracy aimed at inflaming tensions ahead of upcoming assembly elections to create religious polarisation for political gain.
Additionally, Prof. Salim condemned provocative statements by BJP MLA Nitesh Rane, asserting that they are designed to incite violence and communal discord. He called for a strict implementation of the Supreme Court’s directive to take suo motu action against hate speeches, warning that any police reluctance to do so should be considered contempt of court. He expressed concerns that such hate speech is particularly prevalent in poll-bound states, influencing election outcomes and deepening communal divisions. Prof. Salim also demanded action against TV channels and media outlets that promote hatred. He urged the Muslim community to resist provocative acts and appealed to all peace and justice-loving citizens to unite against divisive hatred and violence.
Strongly denouncing the disturbing trend of state governments and local authorities demolishing houses and properties belonging to those accused of crimes, Prof. Salim criticised this illegal practice, which has become increasingly common in recent years and disproportionately targets religious minorities, especially Muslims. He condemned this undemocratic, autocratic, and unjust misuse of state power, which he referred to as “bulldozer justice.”
JIH National Secretary Shafi Madani condemned the detention of 28 Bengali Muslims in Assam. These Muslims have been declared foreigners by a Foreigner Tribunal and sent to transit camps. This action, he said, is discriminatory and dehumanising. He argued that the due process of law was not followed in declaring them as foreigners and detaining them, which constituted a gross violation of their fundamental rights.
Madani noted that many members of the Bengali Muslim community are illiterate, impoverished, and unaware of the cases against them. Due to a lack of resources, they did not challenge their cases in the high court, leading to their illegal detention. He pointed out that this is not a new issue but has been ongoing for some time.
Madani criticised the Foreigners Tribunal for its partisan, arbitrary, and politically motivated judgments, stating that the tribunal disproportionately targets the Muslim community, especially the Miya Bengali Muslims. He cited the Assam NRC process, which showed that two-thirds of those identified as foreigners were Hindus, yet the tribunal has unfairly focused on Muslims, resulting in their unjust detention.
He condemned the lack of transparency and fairness in branding individuals as ‘illegal’ foreigners and demanded the immediate release of the 28 detainees. He called for an immediate stay on all proceedings before the Foreigners Tribunal and affirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami Hind will support the victims both legally and morally.
In response to a question, Madani noted that roughly about 450 individuals have been sent to detention centres in Assam.
On the contentious Waqf Bill and the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) seeking feedback on it, Prof. Salim said a high-level Jamaat delegation, led by JIH President Syed Sadatullah Husaini, recently held a detailed meeting with Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the JPC. The JIH delegation expressed serious concerns that the proposed bill threatens the autonomy and management of Waqf properties and violates the constitutionally guaranteed rights of minorities.
Prof. Salim also lamented that many Waqf properties have been encroached upon not only by private individuals or groups but also by the government itself. He emphasized that such encroachments should be addressed and removed first.
