Bareilly, August 26: Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, addressed several significant issues on Wednesday. He advised against protesting the event of Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in New York. He also raised questions about the Allahabad High Court’s ruling on hijabs and expressed support for the installation of Tipu Sultan’s image in Malegaon.
Regarding the installation of Tipu Sultan’s image by the Deputy Mayor of Malegaon, Maulana Razvi stated, “In Malegaon, 70% of the population is Muslim, while 30% is non-Muslim. The Muslim population in these areas of Maharashtra is substantial. Malegaon is the only city in India where you will find Urdu signboards on the streets, shop signs in Urdu, and names written in Urdu at police stations and intersections. The names of streets, lanes, and neighborhoods are also written in Urdu.”
He continued, “Thus, this is the only city in India that has kept Urdu alive. If an image of Tipu Sultan, a great figure who fought against the British, is installed there, it is not an injustice. I congratulate the Malegaon municipality for their courageous act.”
On the Allahabad High Court’s dismissal of the petition for hijab permission, the Maulana remarked, “There are two aspects to consider: the school’s uniform code and the hijab. Both should be viewed from different perspectives. The High Court claims that the hijab is not a part of Islam, but I believe the student’s lawyer failed to convince the court. If they had provided arguments referencing the Quran and Hadith, I think the court would have been persuaded and would not have concluded that the hijab is not a part of Islam, as it indeed is.”
He added, “If viewed in the Indian context, this is also part of Indian culture. It is not only Muslims but also prevalent among the majority Hindus. In the past, Hindu women also wore veils and covered their bodies with sarees. However, communal and anti-Muslim forces continue to target this.”
Regarding Mayor Joharan Mamdani’s announcement to boycott Mohan Bhagwat’s program in New York, the Maulana stated, “The RSS chief is in New York. Mayor Joharan Mamdani has announced a boycott of his program and is protesting against it. This is a private event, and it should not be protested.”
Leave a Comment