NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELH, FEB 6
Raising serious concern over reduction in budgetary allocations for the minorities, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, one of the biggest socio-cultural organisations of Indian Muslims has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in the communal elements promoting hatred on the pretext of fund collection for Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Addressing media persons at its headquarters on Saturday, JIH vice-president Engineer Mohammad Salim said that the budgetary allocations for schedule caste/scheduled tribes, who accounted for merely 16 per cent of the country’s population, was almost 10 times of that the department of minorities who accounted for about 21 per cent of India’s population. “This is a matter of great concern”, he said.
Stating that the budget of the minorities department had been reduced by substantially this financial year, he said that the budget of minorities department was Rs. 4810.77 crores only this financial year against Rs. 5029 crores last fiscal.
Reiterating the Jamaat’s stand on 2021-22 budget, he said that it was aimed at benefitting the corporate sector, not the common man. He said that it was high time that the Indian economy moved towards equity-based finance that would boost the demand and improve economy.
Speaking about the budgetary allocations for the health sector, he said that Jamaat had been demanding 6 per cent of the DGP to be allocated for the health programme in the country but the allocations made this year were less than two percent. He also expressed concern over inadequate budgetary allocations for the education sector which was the worst hit during the lockdown owing to Covid-19 pandemic.
Government Must Repeal Farm Laws
Regarding the ongoing farm agitation demanding repeal of the three controversial farm laws, Mr Sailm wanted the government to give up its obstinate attitude on the issue and accept the farmers’ demands as the new farm laws were neither in the interest of the farmers nor the consumers. He said that the three farm laws were only to help benefit the corporates.
Condemning the Republic Day violence, he said that there appeared to be mismanagement in handling the situation from the government side itself and there were also allegations against the government in the whole episode. He said that some faces behind the Republic Day violence were well-known but they were still roaming free.
Responding to a question on some foreign governments, leaders and activists having supported the farm agitation, Mr Salim said that the Jamaat appreciated everybody who contributed in protection and strengthening of democracy.
Rein in Communal Elements Promoting Hatred, Violence
Malik Moatasim Khan, JIH secretary (Community Affairs), speaking on the rallies being taken out to collect funds for Ayodhya Ram mandir, said that certain groups were “systematically promoting hate, polarization and violence in the country” on the pretext of fund collection for the temple.
“They target the minority community and want to create division in the society”, he alleged.
He said that this was first started in Madhya Pradesh and then moved to Gujarat, UP and now the fund collection yatra was being planned to be taken out in West Bengal to polarize the society on communal lines.
He said that prominent citizens and social activists have recently a written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to rein in the communal elements and ensure that such yatras were not taken out in minority areas and no communal and provocative slogans were raised during the fund collection process.
JIH secretary (Media Department) Syed Tanveer Ahmed was also present in the press meet.
(With special arrangement with indiatomorrow.net)
