Muslim leaders met Home Minister Amit Shah

Delhi. A delegation of Muslim leaders led by Mahmood Madani, president, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind met the Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence on Tuesday night. In a wide-ranging interaction, the Muslim leaders drew the Home Minister’s attention to growing incidents of violence against the minorities, in particular the riots during the Ram Navami celebrations, frequent cases of mob lynching and cancellation of reservation for Muslims in Karnataka.

They expressed their apprehensions too about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and attacks on madrasas by some BJP leaders. The Home Minister gave them a patient hearing, and assured prompt action in case “specific grievances” were brought to his notice.

The Muslim leadership sought strict action against the lynching accused and possibly a new law to tackle the menace. The Home Minister, however, denied the need for a new law, stating, “Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code entails death. Nothing more is required”. Told about the police often not being ready to charge the accused under Section 302, Mr. Shah “assured action within three days if a specific case was brought up”, as Jamiat’s senior leader Niyaz Farooqui, who was a member of the delegation.

Mr. Shah was forthright when talking of cancellation of reservation for Muslims in Karnataka. “We do not grant reservation on the basis of religion. That’s our policy. You can check the record of 17 States under the BJP. No one gives reservation on the lines of religion. This was done by the earlier Congress government. However, we give reservation on the basis of backwardness. I assure no person will suffer because of religion. I am ready to give a public statement on this.”