New Delhi, March 12: A number of Muslim leaders representing Muslim organizations expressed their solidarity against the enforcement of the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019.
The signatories to the joint statement issued today included Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, President, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind; Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind; Maulana Asghar Imam Mehdi Salafi, President, Jamiat Ahle Hadith Hind; Maulana Faisal Wali Rahmani, Ameer, Imarat-e-Sharia; Maulana Aneesur Rahman Qasmi and Maulana Yaseen Usmani Badayuni, Vice Presidents of All India Milli Council; Malik Moatasim Khan and Mohammad Saleem Engineer, Vice Presidents of JIH; Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi, General Secretary Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind; Dr. Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, Maulana Niyaz Farooqui, Shaikh Mujtaba Farooque, and Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, Ex-Chairman, Delhi Minorities Commission.
The joint statement said, “We, the undersigned organizations hereby issue this joint press statement to express our unified stance against discriminatory legislation that undermines the fundamental principles of equality and justice. We vehemently condemn the enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 just before the announcement of general elections.”
The statement further said, “The Act introduces provisions that sabotage the principles of equality and secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Article 14 of the Indian constitution embodies the general principles of equality before the law and prohibits unreasonable discrimination between persons based on religion.
“The insertion of Clause (b) in Section 2 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, establishes biased treatment – by mentioning individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan, who entered the Indian territory before December 31, 2014; shall not be treated as illegal migrants.
“The Act sheepishly avoids mentioning Muslims infringing the fundamental right to equality and secularism guaranteed by the Indian Constitution by selectively granting citizenship based on religious affiliation; thus undermining the principle of equal treatment under the law. This discriminatory legislation threatens the social fabric of the country eroding the foundational principles of inclusivity and diversity.
“The approval of the Citizen Amendment Bill by the Indian Parliament created a nationwide uproar and protests from Muslims and other sections of society, who felt an immediate responsibility to protect the Constitution of India.
The timing chosen for the implementation of the Act is also questionable and shows the evident political motive of creating a religious divide in the society for narrow-minded political interests.
“We believe that citizenship should be granted based on principles of equality, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed. The Act’s provisions directly contradict these principles and threaten the secular fabric of our nation.
“We urge the government to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and uphold the values of inclusivity and equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution.”
