Hyderabad, Feb. 10: The Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) Students Union president Mateen Ashraf condemned the recent police action in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
“This unwarranted and systematic crackdown on the Muslim community is nothing but a means to serve the political interests of the BJP and RSS,” reads the statement.
Speaking to Radiance, Ashraf, said, “In the ongoing legal dispute regarding alleged unauthorized occupants of land, the union questions the abrupt demolition of a Madrasa and a Masjid while the case is still pending in court. Reports indicate that multiple residents, mostly women, were injured as the police lathi-charged and fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells at the citizens to ‘control the situation.’ The alleged use of machine guns and hundreds of rounds of fire has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least six Muslims. Such actions defy the standards of professional policing.”
Ashraf added, “We express our deep concern about the alarming trend of crackdown and violence against Muslims, including the demolition of mosques and madrasas, arrests of Muslim scholars, interference in Muslim Personal Law, and the selective application of stringent laws. It seems that the law is being exploited as a tool to harass and instill fear among Indian Muslims, posing a significant threat to democracy and the rule of law.”
“Introducing Uniform Civil Code Bill in Uttarakhand assembly just two days before the outbreak of violence, giving shoot-on-sight orders, and the criminalization of Muslim protestors as rioters, reflects the anti-Muslim stance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami,” said Ashraf.
Furthermore, he said, “About the recent issue, the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling in January 2023 emphasizes the human aspect of the dispute and underscores the need for a practical solution instead of uprooting thousands of people overnight. Therefore, the recent crackdown by the Nainital District Administration is entirely unwarranted and in disregard of the Supreme Court guidelines.”
In response to these developments, the MANUU-SU demands an immediate rollback of the demolition drive until an amicable settlement is reached through negotiation and dialogue. “We appeal to the Supreme Court of India to take suo moto action against the selective approach of the administrative machinery and political leadership and call for the immediate suspension and accountability of responsible officials.”
“We stand by the families of the victims and call upon the people of India and civil society to unite against this dangerous anti-Muslim trend of harassment, criminalization, and violence. We urge everyone to raise their voices and collectively resist attempts to create communal divides,” Ashraf added.
