IAMC welcomes clarification by JUH Secretary Mahmood Madani
Maulana Madani asserts that Modi must atone for his role in the 2002 pogroms
Wednesday February 27, 2013
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC – www.iamc.com), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos has welcomed the clarification given by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind General Secretary Mahmood Madani on his controversial remarks that were reported in the media as an acknowledgement of Muslims having warmed up to Modi in Gujarat.
In both written and verbal clarification to IAMC Executives, the JUH Secretary reiterated that his statements were misquoted and taken out of context. He clarified that the issue of justice was much more important when making an electoral choice than the sole criterion of development. Bemoaning the fact that his words were given a hue different from their intent, Maulana Madani said, “My statement has been distorted… It is malicious propaganda… This is no endorsement of Modi. He must atone for his sins.”
There is overwhelming evidence of the administration’s discriminatory policies against Muslims and other minorities. Mr. Narendra Modi opposed a national plan to allocate a fixed share of development funds for Muslims, while also refusing to implement another program that would have provided 53,000 scholarships to Muslim students in Gujarat. According to a report by NGO Janvikas, 16,000 survivors of the Gujarat pogrom are still living in refugee colonies, over a decade after they lost their homes in one of the worst sectarian massacres in independent India. A cursory look at the areas of Muslim population in Ahmedabad shows that the government discriminates against Muslims in providing even basic civic services.
“Maulana Madani clearly says during the interview that Muslims in Gujarat voted out of fear and lack of choices” said Mr. Ahsan Khan, President of IAMC. “His assessment of the voting pattern in Gujarat and his critique of the situation of Muslims in states ruled by ostensibly secular parties is hardly an endorsement of Mr. Modi or of his suitability for any public office.” added Mr. Khan.
Indian-American Muslim Council (formerly Indian Muslim Council-USA) is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 13 chapters across the nation.
For more information please visit our new website at: http://www.iamc.com
REFERENCES:
1. Muslims Education in Gujarat – Myth and reality
http://www.viewsinline.com/travel/gujarat/muslims-education-in-gujarat
2. Gujarat’s Internally Displaced – Ten Years Later
http://janvikas.in/download/Status_report_IDPs.pdf
3. Muslims are Gujarat’s new outcastes: Survey
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_muslims-are-gujarats-new-outcastes-survey_1657290
4. Deoband cleric’s statement on Modi triggers strong reactions
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/deoband-clerics-statement-on-modi-triggers-strong-reactions/article4429028.ece
5. Muslims are the most deprived social group in Gujarat: study
http://twocircles.net/2012dec08/muslims_are_most_deprived_social_group_gujarat_study.html
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Ishaq Syed
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