Jamaat-e-islami to campaign for secular party

By M H Ahssan

Even as Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) strenuously works to give shape to a political party of its own, it has decided to mobilize masses, particularly the Muslims, to vote for a group that promises to focus on comprehensive electoral reforms.

Jamaat is presently busy finalizing the profile of its political organization. “It may not be ready by the time the nation goes to polls in less than three months. But we will continue to do the kind of work we have been doing all along. We will campaign for a secular party or group of parties that has a clear vision about the country,’’ JIH’s state ameer (President) Malik Moatasim Khan told HNN.

He said that the decision to identify the party that will get JIH support would be taken sometime in March. Till then, an awareness campaign would be carried out about areas which Jamaat believes are core to bringing about a change in society.

For instance, the Jamaat would be supporting a political party that takes up electoral and political reforms as its main objectives. The other area on which the Jamaat has focused its attention is the nexus between politicians and criminals. “Its meetings would tell people how this nexus has damaged the civil society. Jamaat would also try to find out which political group is making commitment to the implementation of Supreme Court recommended reforms in the police force. The party’s outlook on caste, creed, religion and socio-economic background of people would also be checked out and made known to the masses. We would back a party that truly believes in pluralism,’’ Khan said.

JIH would also scan the parties to find out their interest in protection and welfare of the minorities, especially the Muslims. It would like to know what plans and policies the political parties have to strengthen the sense of safety and security in the community along with plans for its socio-economic development.

“During the 2004 elections we worked against the communal forces and prevailed upon the public to defeat them. Jamaat played an important role in bringing numerous Muslim organizations under the umbrella of United Muslim Forum. Andhra Pradesh is a good example of the successful efforts made by UMF,” Khan explained.