Cultural freedom of minorities being suppressed: Jamaat e Islami

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind today expressed deep concern over "growing intolerance" and "suppression" of cultural freedom of minorities in the country, alleging that communal elements got strengthened after the assent of BJP to power at the Centre. All India Members' Convention of JIH "expresses anguish over the suppression of cultural freedom of minorities and saffronisation of the country's education system," a resolution passed at the conclusion of a National Members' Meet of the JIH said. The convention regretted "continued silence of Prime Minister over this grim situation" and said "ironically, Union Home Minister is blaming the state government by putting all responsibility upon the state governments." Expressing deep concern over "growing intolerance and communal violence" in the country, it said, "The Convention opines that communal elements got strengthened after the assent of BJP to power at the Centre." At a press conference, JIH national president Maulana Syed Jalauddin Umri said his organisation was against terror group IS. "Whatever Daaish (IS) is doing, whatever people are showing, if it is true, we are against it," he said. Noting that the United States can finish off IS "within minutes" if it wants do so, he said but America is not doing so. Umri felt that there could be a conspiracy in not finishing off the IS so as "to tarnish the image of Islam". How did IS emerge in a span of a few months? he asked. He said those trying to join the terror outfit are "stupid" and it is the responsibility of their parents and the society to stop them from doing so.