New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has expressed its serious concern over the deepening economic crisis arising out of lockdown, following Covid 19 pandemic, since March this year.
The concern about the economic crisis facing the country was expressed through a resolution passed at the Jamaat’s Shoora, or the Central Advisory Council meeting that was held this week.
Addressing a virtual press conference on Saturday, JIH vice-president Engineer Mohammad Saleem said that the sudden lockdown, without giving any time to people for its preparation, not only rendered crores of people losing their jobs but also resulted in unprecedented reverse migration from cities to villages, deprivation of food that resulted in deaths of thousands of people across the country.
The mismanagement, he said, compelled lakhs of people belonging to the labour class migrate from cities to their villages that resulted in a large number of people becoming victims to Covid even in rural areas. This step of the government resulted in GDP of the country sinking too low which ultimately affected the growth rate that further caused joblessness.
Resolutions of Central Advisory Council of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
This session of the Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora (Central Advisory Council) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is being held at a time when the country is fighting the devastations of Covid on one hand and facing political and economic crises on the other.
This session of the Jamaat invites all the citizens of the country to learn lessons from Covid and turn to their real Creator and Master. The fact remains that the great demerits and deficiencies of all the ways adopted to mould human societies, notwithstanding the teachings sent by Allah, have been exposed, and the need for turning to Allah has become more pressing.
This session of the Jamaat condoles on the deaths caused by Covid, and extends sympathy towards all the individuals and families who are suffering from Covid, or facing financial strains as its consequence, or have fallen victim to the excesses of the administration and police for expression of their views during this period.
This session of the Jamaat expresses concern over the present economic and political situation in the country, and the situation prevailing in the Muslim world, and reminds the Muslims in India about their responsibilities.
Save the Country from Economic Crisis
The Prime Minister of our country declared a 21-day lockdown from 24th March 2020 without giving any time for its preparation. This unexpected announcement made the 130 million people suffer from serious crisis. A similar announcement subjecting the people to sufferings was made about demonetisation in November 2016.
This lockdown rendered crores of people deprived of food, homeless and jobless; and caused death for thousands of people. Likewise, a large number of people, especially those belonging to the labour class, were compelled to migrate from south to north, and west to east.
All this happened owing clearly to the mismanagement and irresponsible conduct of the government, as a result of which a very large number of people fell victim to Covid, a great number of them were rendered jobless, and the GDP of the country sunk too low. And the growth rate is on the verge of decline.
To counter the crises, whatsoever efforts have been made by the Union Government, State Governments and citizens of the country are considerable; however, the prevailing gravity of the situation demands that the Government instead of covering its failures with various designs should concentrate on making the situation of the country better. Instead of slogans a course of action with greater national coordination should be hatched, and immediate measures be taken, rising above the party lines and having won the confidence of all sections. The corruption prevalent in the country and anti-people economic policies play a big role in the helplessness of the economic system and the healthcare system of the country in countering Covid and its devastations. The inevitable need of the hour is that along with immediate timely measures sincere efforts are made to purge the country of corruption, economic policies of the country are reviewed, mounting steps towards privatisation are contained, commercialisation of health and education is kept from, and a large chunk of the budget is earmarked for enhancing the opportunities of public welfare and employment. To deal with this grave situation, it cannot be on any account enough to depend on the Government; public awareness and sense of responsibility is inevitable. Rising above every shade of disparity, people should promote the ambience of brotherhood and the trend of mutual support. All persons of the society should extend their helping hand to support those who are jobless or facing unbearable expenses due to Covid; this is the demand of humanity which calls everyone.
Bail the Country out of Political Turmoil
If the country is standing at the threshold of economic crisis on one hand, it is badly in the grip of political turmoil on the other. There are big and unavoidable question marks on the sovereignty of constitutional institutions. The freedom to dissent is in great danger, judgements pronounced by the highest institutions of judiciary are becoming butt of criticism in the whole world, the ruling party is showing continuous aggression towards the minorities while the role of the Opposition is reduced to a naught.
The policies and decisions of the present government against the minorities, Dalits, weaker sections and particularly Muslims have become a serious danger to the democratic identity of the country. The role of a particular section of media and social media is envenoming the ambience of harmony in the country. Hateful messages in media and social media and silence of the government thereon and sometimes its patronisation are becoming the source of distrust and anger among the minorities.
The way the people who participated in protests against N.R.C., C.A.A., and N.P.R. have been charged and incarcerated during the lockdown is highly condemnable.
The prime most responsibility of the Government and the first requirement of its commitment to the Constitution is that it protects the confidence of all sections of the country on the Constitution and constitutional institutions. Furthermore, this scenario of political turmoil should be a matter of concern for all people.
Alarming Scenario of the Muslim World
The civil wars continuing for years together in the various parts of the Muslim world, particularly in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Libya are alarming. These civil wars have claimed lakhs of people and caused immeasurable financial loss. World powers are certainly responsible for this disturbing situation; however, the prime most responsibility of containing and improving it lies on the shoulders of the Muslim Ummah. It is necessary to diagnose the causes of these civil wars and to launch a campaign on the international level for its remedy.
The situation of political stability and human rights in certain Muslim countries is frightening. In these countries, there is restriction on freedom of expression and thousands of people are behind the bars for their crime of making attempts to reform the situation. This situation of the Muslim countries is tarnishing their image in the comity of nations, and is a big obstacle in the way of their development. To effect a change for the better in this situation, continuous and long-term peaceful struggle, totally avoiding violence, is necessary.
As Israeli occupation of Palestine was wrong in its beginning, it would remain so in its continuance as well. It is necessary to keep on renewing the standpoint the Muslim Ummah and peace-loving international fraternity had adopted at the beginning of the occupation so that the demand of justice may not get blurred with the passage of time but rather it may remain in its correct form before the eyes of all and sundry. With regard to Palestine, the US-brokered recent deal of the United Arab Emirates with the usurper Israel is an open breach of trust with the Palestinian issue, and is highly condemnable. It is not proper for the government of any country to try to impose any option on them irrespective of the will of the Palestinian people. And for the government of a Muslim country, it is very shameful to be part of such a condemnable attempt. The long struggle our country India has made to achieve Independence requires that it sticks to the standpoint with which it has been standing with the Palestinian people for the freedom of Palestine. Let Indian Muslims Do Their Duty with Enthusiasm
The most serious issue the Muslims in India have been confronting in their beloved country is that of fascism. With the passage of time, this calamity has been turning ever more volatile. Indeed, this ambience of communalism and enmity to Muslims is not new. There is a complete history of peddling hate and bias and misleading propaganda of fascist elements in the country. However, the situation has turned graver since this trend of communalism and fascism has got government connivance in recent years.
An effective means to get rid of this very dangerous and pernicious virus of hate and fascism is service to humanity and activities of public welfare and practical Dawah expression of Islamic ethics, the apt example of which the Muslims in the country have presented during the Covid pandemic. At this time of calamity during the lockdown the Muslims all over the country helped their needy and grief-stricken brothers irrespective of their religion and faith, in an exemplary and committed manner. Muslim organisations and NGOs also were on the forefront in this service to humanity. During this period Jamaat-e-Islami Hind too undertook relief work all over the country in a campaign manner and issued timely appeals for the guidance of the country and the community. It is the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah to continue their journey onto the path of service and Dawah with patience and fortitude, enthusiasm and steadfastness.
The condition of Muslims with respect to education and economic stability calls for consideration and requires organised strivings. It is necessary for the Muslim Ummah to plan for educational and economic advancement with new ideas and thought. And make good use of the possibilities present in the New Education Policy for educational advancement, besides criticising the weaknesses thereof. Likewise, unacquaintance and to some extent negligence towards the laws and regulations of the country may add to the difficulties in times to come. It is necessary for Muslim NGOs, organisations and institutions that they do all their work keeping in view all necessary requirements of the laws of the country. The Muslims should also make sincere efforts to complete all legal documents.
It should be kept in view that while adopting all necessary measures to deal with the present challenges and disturbing situation, deep affinity with the objective is all the more necessary, for the ultimate success of Muslims depends on their affinity with their objective.