Jamaat-e-Islami Hind chief Syed Sadatullah Husaini reiterated his party’s ‘immediate and unequivocal’ condemnation of the Delhi blast, calling the attack ‘a crime against humanity’
NEW DELHI — Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) President Syed Sadatullah Husaini on Saturday raised alarm over four major national concerns — the Red Fort blast, Delhi’s worsening air pollution, mandatory re-registration of Waqf properties, and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He urged the government to respond with “seriousness, sensitivity and fairness.”
Addressing the monthly briefing at the party headquarters here, Husaini reiterated Jamaat’s “immediate and unequivocal” condemnation of the Delhi blast, calling the attack “a crime against humanity.” Expressing solidarity with victims’ families, he said, “Those responsible are enemies of humanity, and citizens must stand united.”
He stressed that radicalisation and violence “cannot be justified under any motive or ideology,” and noted that no religion sanctions attack on innocent people.
Husaini also highlighted what he described as serious security and intelligence lapses, pointing to reports of multiple blasts across police station jurisdictions in nine villages that left nine people dead. “Such attacks in central and tourist locations like the Red Fort indicate a major breakdown in our security apparatus,” he said, calling for a comprehensive institutional review.
He further warned against communal stereotyping in the aftermath of terror incidents, saying polarising narratives serve the interests of perpetrators. “It becomes the victory of terrorists when society allows itself to be divided,” he cautioned.
Turning to Delhi’s severe air pollution, Husaini criticised what he termed the government’s “seasonal and episodic” response. Emergency measures, he said, appear each winter but fade once smog levels decline.
“We cannot continue this cycle for a century and expect change,” he remarked, urging long-term, science-driven, and sustained policy interventions.
Noting that nearly 40% of Delhi’s pollution is dust-related, he pointed to chronic gaps in waste management, street cleaning and basic civic preparedness. “This is not a political issue — it concerns the health of millions, especially children,” he emphasised.
‘Unnecessary’ Waqf Re-Registration
Husaini criticised recent amendments to the Waqf Act that require all Waqf properties — including those long registered — to be re-documented on the UMEED portal. He called the change “unnecessary, inappropriate and a violation of Muslims’ rights,” noting that legal challenges in this regard are already underway.
Despite its objections, JIH is assisting community members across the country with the re-registration process. However, Husaini said the system is plagued by technical errors, complicated documentation demands and “an impossibly short deadline.”
India has “centuries-old Waqfs,” he reminded. “Expecting complete digital documentation in one or two months is unrealistic.” He urged the government to extend deadlines, fix technical glitches and adopt a more facilitative approach. “If re-registration is truly the objective, the process must be made possible — not impossible.”
On the ongoing revision of electoral rolls, Husaini said the exercise is being conducted with unrealistic deadlines and inadequate staffing, placing Booth Level Officers (BLOs) under extreme pressure. Reports from several states, he noted, indicate that this stress has even led to cases of suicide.
Pointing to reports from Bihar suggesting that nearly one crore voters have been removed from the rolls, he warned that such large-scale exclusions could deprive citizens of their constitutional right to vote.
He called for increased staffing, improved facilities for BLOs, extended timelines and stronger oversight to prevent wrongful deletions. “The right to vote is central to citizenship. This process must not end up disenfranchising genuine voters,” he said.
The Jamaat chief urged citizens, policymakers and institutions to uphold unity, constitutional values and the rights of all communities. Whether confronting terrorism, tackling pollution, safeguarding Waqf properties or revising electoral rolls, he said, India must act with “fairness, transparency and inclusion.”
