Jamaat-e-Islami Hind seeks smooth observance of Bakra Eid

The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, India’s biggest socio-cultural organization has requested the Centre and the state governments to allow the activities related to Eid-al-Adha, while ensuring all safety guidelines of COVID-19 remain in place.

New Delhi: The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Saturday requested the Centre and the state governments to facilitate smooth observance of Eid-al-Adha, saying there can be no replacement or alternative to animal sacrifice.

"We have written to the principal secretaries of all states for ensuring a smooth observance of Eid-al-Adha amid the coronavirus pandemic and demand that they should offer all possible concessions to Muslims and provide security against anti-social elements," JIH vice president Muhammad Salim Engineer said in a virtual press conference.

He said that Jamaat has made it clear that qurbani is the most important worship on Eid-al-Adha days and there can be no replacement or alternative for the act of worship.

Earlier, the Shariah Council of JIH had issued guidelines to the Muslim community and emphasized that health and hygiene norms must be followed during the process of sacrifice.

Regarding the offering of Eid namaaz, Muhammad Salim said that all norms of social distancing shall be followed, there will be multiple 'jamaats' (prayer-sessions) to reduce the size of the congregation.

"Children and the elderly will not be allowed to join the Eid prayer and the customary intermingling and proximity for Eid greetings will be avoided," he added.

Speaking on the issue of the report released by the Delhi Minorities Commission on the Nort East Delhi riots, Salim Engineer said, " We are highly concerned at the shocking details provided by the report. It mentions that partisanship and bias on the part of the police and government have led to the abject failure of duty and of the law and order machinery in the capital of India."

He said the report states that the violence was 'organised' and had a 'systematic pattern'.

"We concur with the findings of the report and support its recommendations, namely- to file a petition seeking constitution of a five-member independent committee to investigate the riots," said Salim Engineer.

The JIH vice president demanded that there must be proper and prompt action for non- registration of FIR in all cases where complaints were not converted into FIRs and the statements of victims should be recorded under section 164 of CrPC.

"Protection to witness and victims must be provided along with review of charge sheets filed by the police. The extent of complicity or abdication of duty by the police during the violence should also be established," said Salim Engineer.