Punishment without trial undermines democracy and natural justice, says chief of the organisation
NEW DELHI — Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) President Sadatullah Hussaini on Saturday expressed serious concern over India’s distressing economic condition, devastation caused by flood, eviction drives in Assam, and the prolonged imprisonment of activists under UAPA.
Speaking at the organisation’s monthly press briefing, Hussaini said that the US tariffs on Indian exports were hurting workers and industries. He pointed to the affected 15 lakh workers in Surat, carpet exports worth over ₹2,500 crore stuck in Uttar Pradesh, and the threat of closures in Tirupur’s textile hubs. To address the crisis, he suggested a ₹25,000 crore relief package, GST refunds, concessional loans, and interest waivers. He also urged the government to expand exports to new markets, including Japan, South Korea, Germany, Mexico, and the UK.
On the flood situation, Hussaini blamed corruption in infrastructure projects for repeated damage to roads, bridges, and dams. He called for stronger climate policies, better disaster preparedness, and special support for farmers.
The Jamaat president also condemned large-scale evictions of Muslims and tribal groups in Assam districts like Goalpara and Kamrup, saying over 1,700 families have been displaced despite valid citizenship papers. He demanded an immediate halt to the evictions, rehabilitation of victims, and protection of land rights.
Criticising prolonged detention under UAPA, Hussaini said activists, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, have remained in jail without trial since 2020. He argued that “bail is the rule in law,” and warned that punishment without trial undermines democracy and natural justice.
Defending citizens carrying Palestinian flags, he said it was an expression of solidarity consistent with India’s foreign policy traditions.
JIH Vice President Prof Salim Engineer also addressed the briefing. He condemned the Assam eviction drives, alleging that even families with valid land records and voter IDs were targeted, and cited the death of a young man in police firing. He called for an inquiry into the incident and rehabilitation for all displaced families.
On the Delhi High Court’s recent judgment rejecting bail for student activists in the 2020 riots conspiracy case, Prof Engineer said the ruling relied on weak evidence like WhatsApp group membership and risked silencing dissent. He expressed the hope that the Supreme Court would intervene to ensure justice and protect democratic freedoms.
