Constitution, Democratic values in the country have been destroyed: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind President
Bengaluru, Sept 12: Islamic outfit Jamaat-e-Islami Hind on Thursday expressed a sense of "unease" and "anxiety" about the social, political and economic situation in the country and said it wanted the situation to improve.
Its President Syed Sadatullah Husaini said Muslims in the country were not "fearful", but the community, along with every peace loving citizen of India, was "concerned" and "anxious" and wants the prevailing situation to improve.
The outfit Thursday held a meeting here with heads and representatives of various Muslim organisations on the "prevailing situation in the country".
"Our country today is passing through a very crucial stage. On the one side we are developing on many fronts like- science and technology, technical manpower...
When we have so many opportunities to become a world leader, unfortunately on the other side, a scenario is being developed in the country that is creating hindrance and obstacles," Husaini said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Husaini said the way the Parliament session was conducted recently showed the 'downfall' of democratic values and norms, as "many important legislations were passed without any debate."
"Many of them were draconian in nature and challenges the fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution," he said.
The manner in which Article 370 was removed 'unilaterally' without taking into confidence the people of Jammu and Kashmir and political representatives there showed the downfall of democratic values, he added.
Husaini also said it was also a matter of great concern to them to note the manner in which democratic institutions were 'deteriorating' and democratic values were being 'compromised.'
It was the duty of all citizens to work unitedly to protect and restore democratic values and the Constitution, he said, noting that rising 'communal polarisation' and politics of hatred has become a major challenge,to address which it was important to build bridges between communities through promoting dialogue.
After the meeting,the Jamaat e Islamia Hind also released a joint declaration, which, he said, communicated promotion of inter-faith dialogue, understanding, presenting the true picture of Islam and its real teachings, other than throwing light on the prevailing situation in the country.
On the right to have an opinion and debate being the soul of democracy, he said an atmosphere was being created that one who toes the government line is a nationalist and those who oppose it are anti-national.
He also stressed on the need for a comprehensivelaw against mob-lynching and expressed concern over implementation of the National Register of Citizens and Triple Talaq, among others.
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Indian visa application centre suspended indefinitely in Bangladesh's Chattogram
Dhaka (PTI): India on Sunday suspended visa operations at its mission in Bangladeshi port city of Chattogram until further notice, according to media reports.
The move comes in the wake of a fresh wave of unrest witnessed in the country following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
His death triggered attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-hurling at the Assistant Indian High Commissioner's residence in Chattogram on Thursday.
Hadi, a prominent leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
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He was shot in the head on December 12 by masked gunmen at an election campaign in central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on December 18.
“Due to the recent security incident at Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong (Chattogram) will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice,” the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) said in a brief statement.
The announcement for reopening the visa centre will be made after reviewing the situation, the statement added. The decision came into effect on Sunday.
There are five IVAC facilities across Bangladesh at Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Sylhet. An IVAC official told PTI that the other four offices have remained operational as of Sunday.
India on Thursday resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, a day after closing it over escalated security concerns, but closed for a brief period two other identical facilities in Rajshahi and Khulna as anti-India protestors tried to march towards the Indian missions there.
On Saturday, security was strengthened at the Indian Assistant High Commission office and the visa application centre in Bangladesh's Sylhet city.
The enhanced security measures were put in place to ensure that “no third party can exploit the situation,” Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Saiful Islam was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune newspaper on Saturday.
Hadi, 32, was laid to rest on Saturday amid extra-tight security beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University mosque.
Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral prayers, and ahead of the ritual, chanted anti-India slogans like “Delhi or Dhaka - Dhaka, Dhaka” and “brother Hadi’s blood will not be allowed to go in vain.”
Earlier on December 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” it said.
The envoy was apprised of India's strong concerns about the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh, it added.
