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Ujjain: The 23rd conference of the
All India Muslim Personal Law Board, (AIMPLB), has called upon the
Government of India and the state governments to take initiatives
for redressing the grievances of Indian Muslims of interference in
their Islamic family laws known as Muslim personal laws or Shariah.
The personal laws of Muslims are the integral part of their
religion and belief and any tampering with these laws is
interference in the religion. It is clear violation of fundamental
rights to profess, practice and propagate their religion which is
guaranteed in Indian Constitution. It is our constitutional right
to live in the country with full freedom of religion, the AIMPLB
said.
The three-day AIMPLB conference concluded here in Jamia Arabia
Siraj-ul-Uloom, the venue of the convention, on the outskirts of
historic city Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday while adopting a
seven point resolution by voice vote.
The AIMPLB has demanded a minimum compensation of Rs.25 lakh to be
paid to Muslim youths tagged as terrorists, who after being
incarcerated in jails in prime of their youth were allegedly
tortured physically and mentally at the hands of security
agencies, were honourably released by courts of law in the absence
of any evidence found against them.
It also demanded that many other Muslim youths who are languishing
in prisons in different states for many years without any
charge-sheet filed against them and without any incriminating
evidence against them must be released forthwith. In other such
cases charge-sheet be filed without any further delay and the
trials should be conducted in fast track courts.
Another resolution expressed concern that in Bharatiya Janata
Party, (BJP), ruled Madhya Pradesh Hindutva agenda is being
imposed in educational institution to influence the young minds of
children of minorities namely Muslims and Christians who study
there. As per the Hindu ideology and mythology school-going
children are being espoused to perform Surya Namaskar, recite
Bhojan Mantar before taking mid-day meals, sing Vandematram where
mother earth has been glorified as god, and excerpts’ of Hindu
religious book Bhagvad Geeta have been incorporated in school
syllabi. All these acts in a secular country is against the spirit
of Indian Constitution and the government of the day has no right
to propagate any particular religion compulsorily or voluntarily.
Moreover, Muslims are not idol worshipers but worship only one God
called Allah and as such AIMPLB demanded a complete ban on such
activities forthwith.
Briefing news persons at the conclusion of conference Adv. Abdur
Rahim Qureshi, Assistant general secretary and spokesman of AIMPLB,
said: “In our country we feel that the stability of present
democratic and cultural polarity structure is at stake and it is
imperative and duty of every citizen and every community and group
living in India to inculcate the sentiments of truly upholding the
principles of secular character of the state’s cultural plurality
and duty towards country.”
“For this it is necessary that every group and community should
feel that those things which are dearer to their lives are safe,
preserved and protected. The first and foremost thing in this
regard is religion. As far as Muslims are concerned they feel and
there is reason for this feeling that there is interference from
the state and its organs in the matter of religion”, he added.
Adv. Qureshi said the AIMPLB while appreciating the announcement
of the Union Minister for minorities’ Affairs K. Rahman Khan that
Waqf Bill 2010 would be introduced in the ongoing session of
Parliament has demanded its early introduction for proper
supervision, protection and preservation of the Waqf properties
spread all over India. It also demanded introduction of a Bill for
empowering the Waqf Boards to evict encroachments and those who
have Waqf properties under their possession. The Board also
demanded return of Waqf properties which are under illegal
possession of Union and state governments or at lest legalising
their possession by taking them on lease from the Waqf Boards.
He said AIMPLB was very critical of the Direct Taxes Code Bill as
it is harmful to the places of worship and religious trust of all
religious communities including Muslims. The Board has demanded
the exemptions and concessions as provided in the present Income
Tax Act should be incorporated in the Direct Tax Code Bill. The
Board called upon Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Parsees to stand
up against the Direct Tax Code Bill and support and raise their
voice along AIMPLB to amend it. The Direct Taxes Code is a bid by
the government to impose tax on Masjids, temples, churches and
gurdawaras, and charitable trusts or organizations which are
working for any religious community. These religious places should
be exempted for Income Tax and Wealth Tax, he added
Meanwhile, “Ujjain Declaration” was released at the concluding
session of the conference where among other things it said that in
the present era the protection and safety of women against sexual
assault has become a top priority for which only legal sword and
enhancement of punishment against the perpetrators of these crimes
are being demanded. However, no effort is being made neither to
change the mind set of the menfolk by inculcating moral values in
them nor the causes which causes these crimes is being looked
into. One of the major cause is consumption of alcohol which
propels to commit such crimes and as such there is no move to
impose prohibition forthwith or slowly and gradually,
The “Ujjain Declaration” urged Muslims to be a practicing Muslim
following the Shariah laws in letter and spirit to influence
others by their characters and practical examples of exemplary
behaviour even in adverse situations. Muslims should not get
demoralised but stand united to face the challenges posed by the
adversaries.
Later, in the evening after Maghrib prayers a mammoth public
meeting was held here in Nanakheda Stadium which was overflowing
with scull caps as Muslims from in and around Ujjain started
thronging the venue from afternoon. They came in hordes in buses,
jeeps, cars, tractors etc. and the whole area gave festive look.
It was sea of humanity and according to one estimate more than
50,000 people including children converged on to the stadium to
listen to Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi president of
the AIMPLB, and other Ulema and intellectuals of the community to
refresh their Emaan. Union Minister for Minorities' Affairs K.
Rahman Khan specially flew in to Indore and drove to Ujjain about
50-60 kms away to address the public meeting. The stadium
reverberated time and again with “Naray-e-Takbeer” in-between the
emotional speeches of the speakers.
Addressing the milling crowd of Muslims Maulana Rabey said that
India is a democratic and secular country. Its constitution
guarantees right to religion and one has the right to practice
one's religion. Few people are trying to alter democratic and
secular nature of our country which is unacceptable. He termed
intrusion in Shariat as unconstitutional and against the secular
fabric of the country, he added.
Till the filing of this report others who addressed the massive
gathering of Muslims included Union Minister K Rahman Khan,
Maulana Arshad Madani of Deoband Islamic seminary, Rashee Farhangi
(Lucknow), Maulana Anees-ur-Rahman Qasmi of Imarat Shariah (Patna),
Maulana Salman Alhasni Nadwi of Nadwatul Ulama (Lucknow), Prof.
Mateen Qadri, general secretary Tameer-e-Millat (Hyderabad), Arif
Masood (Bhopal) etc. (pervezbari@eth.net)
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