‘Aparajtia’ Shukla JAMIAT-ULAMA-HIND chief Maulana Madani’s comment on judiciary and Supreme Court has not only triggered political storm but it has stirred various social organisations acrossed the State. Consequently, protests have intensified in the State over Madani’s statement that ‘whenever there is oppression, there will be jihad.’ On Sunday, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists staged a massive demonstration at Bhopal’s Roshanpura Square, burning an effigy of Madani.

 

The protesters garlanded the effigy with shoes and shouted slogans, demanding legal action. Protesters arrived with posters and threw shoes at the effigy to express their anger. Many activists protested Madani’s statement by drawing crosses on posters with markers. Some posters also featured slogans like “If you want to live in India, you must say Vande Mataram.” Insult to the country, the Constitution, and Hindu society will not be tolerated. VHP leader Jitendra Chauhan said that Madani’s statement is against the country and Hindu society.

 

He asked, “They say that if there is oppression, there will be jihad... so tell me where the oppression is happening?” Chauhan alleged that statements like Madani’s serve to incite Muslim youth. He said that by constantly raising objections to Vande Mataram, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution, an attempt is being made to spread division in society. Accusing of hurting national pride, VHP National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal also attacked Madani, saying that some radical elements are trying to mislead young Muslims in the name of slogans like ‘oppression, paradise, and jihad.’ He said that the Muslim community should distance itself from such elements.

 

Bansal also alleged that attempts have been made to promote anti-national activities by collecting illegal funds in the name of Halal certification, which will no longer be tolerated. At a meeting of the governing body of Jamiat Ulama-Hind in Bhopal on Saturday, Maulana Mahmood Madani said that efforts to spread hatred against Islam and Muslims have increased at this time. He clarified that jihad does not mean violence or terror, but rather struggle against injustice. “The court verdicts in the last few years, including those on Babri Masjid and triple talaq, have led to a common belief that the judiciary is working under Government pressure. It has put a question mark on the role of judiciary in the country.

 

The Supreme Court is eligible to be called ‘Supreme’ only when it follows the Constitution,” Madani said. He further stated that terms like love jihad, land jihad and spit jihad have been coined to defame Muslims. Whenever there is oppression, as long as it happens, there will be Jihad, that is, fight against oppression. His statements drew fierce backlash from various corners of the State including ruling party leaders MLA Rameshwar Sharma termed his action is like Jinnahs saying “ Such people are trying to provoke the country’s Muslims. The Supreme Court take suo motu cognisance of Madani’s remarks and initiate action against him.”