Jamiat Ulema set to confer with politicos

Hyderabad: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Monday decided to approach political parties in the poll fray with their set of proposals. Among the top grievances of the organisation is the resolution of the cases of Aler encounter and Mecca Masjid bomb blast.

Speaking to media persons, Moulana Hafiz Peer Shabbir, President Jamiat Ullama Hind, said that the organization would be meeting the leaders with their set of proposals in the coming days. He said that Muslims would vote for those who show interest in fulfilling their demands. He said that the Muslims of the State meted with grave injustice because of the way the State government handled of cases like Aler encounter and Mecca Masjid bomb blast.

“The government has failed to disclose the details of the investigation in the case of Aler encounter. Even the case of Mecca Masjid bomb blast, which took place in 2007, where police also opened fire on namazis following blast, remains to be reinvestigated. Those who were responsible were let-off and the government machinery kept mum and none approached the High Court challenging the acquittal of the accused. The details of the investigation should be made public,” he demanded.

He also said that recently Telangana State Wakf Board was sealed by the government, citing doubts of missing files and alleged involvement of officers and staff. However, none of those who were involved were brought to book. The entire Muslim community is being kept in dark over such matters, he added. “These Wafk properties are assets of Muslim community, which should be protected and any discrepancies must be made public to the stakeholders,” he further added.

Peer Shabbir reiterated that the Muslims need Sub-Plan, as the funds meant for spending for welfare of minority community were not being utilized properly. Though the funds allocated to the community remain in thousands of crores, but the spending remains paltry. “If the government claims allocation of huge sums of money to Muslims, then why each year only 30 to 50 per cent of funds were utilized. At the same time, other communities get the sanctioned amount, but the Muslims remain on the receiving end,” he noted.

The Jamiat leader questioned the State government’s intention in closing 30 minority colleges, which were running for the last several years. He said that while previous government’s maintained these educational institutions, the new government chose to shut them.

P Shabbir also requested the government not to interfere in functioning of Islamic seminaries (madrasas), which run with the funds contributed by the members within the community. “When the committees constituted by the government claim that only 3 to 4 per cent of the students go to seminaries, it was high time that the State government focused on betterment of remaining 97 per cent students who go to modern schools, rather than interfering in the matters related to Madarsas ” he added.