Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns violence in Malda

Muslim organisation Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has condemned the recent violence in Kaliachak, Malda, West Bengal, reports The Economic Times. While the BJP calls the recent events incidents of communal violence, the JIH will launch a front called 'Dharmik Morcha' which will include leaders from different religions to "soothe" frayed tempers and "neutralise" threats of communal violence.

"We have to understand this kind of incident will lower the image people have for us in mind," said Mohammad Nuruddin Shah, president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (Bengal chapter). "It [the violence] was an unnecessary and immature step. Moreover, it was the Prophet's birthday. Kamlesh Tiwari made all those comments in another state and police took action too. So creating trouble in the state where you live was not wise."

Shah called the violence in Malda a law and order problem rather than an incident of communal violence. Riots had broken out in Kaliachak on 3 January when a Muslim organisation called a rally to protest an alleged derogatory remark by a leader of a Hindu organisation in Uttar Pradesh.

"We have information that there were some Muslim clerics in nearby masjids who provoked the young crowd," said Shah. "Some parties are now trying to give it a shape of communal incident, (but) it was a law and order problem."

The JIH have now undertaken a programme to sensitise 60 mosques in the area to minimise chances of similar incidents in future. The Dharmik Morcha will also be launched soon, with a unit in every district, and will intervene in cases of communal tension.