NEW DELHI: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH), a leading Muslim organization in India, has taken a strong stand against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on two issues.
One is the government’s decision to table a bill on setting up a Central Madrasa Board in the current session of the Parliament. JUH is also agitated at the center extending support to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on prohibiting Muslim personnel from sporting beard.
Addressing a gathering of leading clerics from across the country, JUH President Maulana Arshad Madani said yesterday: “The government should not interfere in religious affairs of Muslims.”
“It is for Muslims to take steps for development of their educational institutions. The Muslims are not opposed to their institutions being accorded government recognition as well as funding. With madrasas, however, playing an important role in imparting religious teaching to the students, it is feared that the government’s interference would kill their driving force, their religious spirit,” he said.
Madani blamed the bill as a “conspiracy” targeting Muslims and Islam in India. But he asserted till the madrasas are allowed to run, Islam will remain and grow stronger. Madani said: “The government is welcome to take action, if the madrasas are found to be engaged in any objectionable activity. But this has never been the case.”
The issue of Muslim men sporting beards has hit headlines with the center having stated in the Supreme Court that it supports IAF’s decision to prohibit Muslim personnel from keeping beard.
In response to a notice issued by the apex court, the central government said: “These policies are secular in character and have not been framed to infringe upon the freedom of Air Force personnel to practice any religion.”
