By Special Correspondent
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind faced heavy criticism on social media after the party hosted a “prestigious” Eid reception, which was attended by the former vice President Hamid Ansari, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi, Congress’s Senior leaders Mani Shankar Aiyar, Rajiv Shukla, Janardan Dwivedi, CPI(M) leader Sita Ram Yechury, among many others.
Netizens claimed that the organisation was “busy entertaining RW leaders in 5 star hotels” while houses of poor Muslims were vandalised and demolished across the country.
“They have a donation button on their website and many people might have donated their zakat to them. And they are throwing lavish Eid parties using that money.” wrote a user named Khalid Parvez (@KhalidBareli) on Twitter.
There is little prestige in inviting mosque demolished to your events. A reminder to our Muslim brothers that your Ulema continues to be your problem. They don’t care about you. They care about greasing their pockets. https://t.co/btvRmfzWFM
— Arnab Roy Chowdhury (@daldaparatha) May 7, 2022
Many individuals raised concerns over Jamiat’s invitation to Murli Manohar Joshi, who was one of the key accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
This is NOT prestigious in any way except if Jamiat Ulama thinks prestigious means having a lavish event at a 5-star hotel hosting politicians who lack the morality to stand with Muslims against the systemic persecution imposed by the state and right-wing groups. https://t.co/rTWeMzDksF
— Nusaybah (@hate_stopper) May 7, 2022
“Hamid Ansari, Murli Manohar Joshi, MJ Akbar, Prashant Kishor, Sitaram Yechury and Omar Abdullah in an Eid party. Amazing. Just a week back Muslim homes got bulldozed and their properties destroyed by armed Ram Navmi and Hanuman Jayanti rioters.” Wrote another Twitter user, while criticizing the party.
While hosting "prestigious* Eid gatherings for those who brought down the Babri masjid, surely you could have spent some time in Roorkee where women have to hide in fields after being victims of the mobs led by the same party whose leaders you invite?https://t.co/HgiLty98Hr
— Yeh Log ! (@yehlog) May 7, 2022
Maulana Mahmood Madani, president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said that that the purpose of the Eid meeting of was to promote international humanitarian values and the Ganga-Jamuni culture of the Indian society. Madani also expressed “his resolve to integrate the means and resources that unite the country” during the speech.
Many others took strong note of Madani’s closeness with Hindutva extremist leaders who bay for blood of Muslims. A user named Abd Abdul said that Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and Mahmood Madani will play an important role in making India a Hindu nation.
“You are making tall claims about the Ganga Jamuni Tahzeeb, in whose name house of innocent Muslims are being demolished,” he added.
Another user named Rafe Alam said that after making a deal over the Babri Masjid, Jamiat is now looking forward to doing the same in connection with the Gyanvapi mosque.
A person named Touseef MH said that Madani and like-minded people should be ashamed of being custodians of Ganga Jamuni Tahzeeb in a country where Muslims are killed for their religious identity in full public view.