Bareilly, July 23: Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, has expressed his views on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, proposed actions against Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He stated that statehood should be reinstated once normalcy returns to Jammu and Kashmir. He also raised concerns about the UCC draft, deeming it contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.
In a recent conversation, Maulana Razvi noted that following the abrogation of Article 370, peace has largely been established in Jammu and Kashmir, with a significant reduction in terrorist activities. Development projects have accelerated, and the situation has improved compared to previous years. Political parties have long demanded the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, a stance he supports. When the central government revoked Article 370, it was promised that statehood would be restored once conditions normalized. Given the current claims of normalcy and development, there should be no obstacles to reinstating statehood.
Regarding the proposed demolition actions against Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Maulana Razvi emphasized that this institution was established in honor of freedom fighter Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, who played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence. Maulana Jauhar actively participated in the freedom movement alongside Mahatma Gandhi and effectively represented India’s interests during the Round Table Conference in London against British rule. After his death, he was buried in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem.
Razvi asserted that if the university was built by Azam Khan and legal actions are being taken against him, the institution and the education system should not suffer as a result. It would be inappropriate to harm an institution named after a freedom fighter.
On the topic of the Uniform Civil Code, Maulana Razvi raised serious questions about the draft passed in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. He pointed out that it is concerning that a single committee chairperson is drafting UCC proposals for states like Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. He questioned how it can be called a Uniform Civil Code if Scheduled Tribes are excluded from its purview. If all citizens are equal, then the same laws should apply to all communities.
Maulana Razvi accused the government of failing to consult a wide range of religious and social communities before drafting the UCC. The spirit of the Constitution mandates discussions with all stakeholders on such significant issues, which did not occur. Creating laws based solely on advice from like-minded individuals is not an appropriate process and does not align with the Constitution’s spirit. In his view, the UCC aims to interfere with Muslim personal law and Sharia. The Muslim community respects the law, adheres to the Constitution, and loves the country, but accepting any law that contradicts their religious beliefs will be challenging. The government should engage in dialogue with all communities to prevent any discontent.
Leave a Comment