Lucknow: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani on Saturday opposed the demolition order by Rampur Development Authority (RDA) to bring down 38 out of 40 buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, describing the issue as political and added that university is named after a great freedom fighter and any action against the institution should follow the completion of the legal process.Speaking on the sidelines of the Hindu Muslim Unity Convention Against Communalism and Hatred in Lucknow, Madani said demolishing an educational institution before judicial proceedings conclude would be unjust and detrimental to thousands of students.The convention was organised by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind in collaboration with Jamiat Ulama Uttar Pradesh. Senior advocate Indira Jaising and Prof Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, Mahant of the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Varanasi, were among those present.Responding to questions on the proposed action against the university, Madani said, “This is a political issue. Azam Khan is a political figure, and I may have my differences with him. But the person (Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar) after whom the university is named was a great freedom fighter.”“The university bearing his name should continue to exist and should prosper,” he added.Madani maintained that even if legal violations were found in relation to the university, authorities should wait for the judicial process, including a final decision by the Supreme Court, before taking irreversible action.“If someone has constructed a building illegally, demolition should not be the only option. Thousands of students study there and receive an education. The institution should be protected while enforcing the law,” he said, adding that imposing fines, where warranted, would be a more appropriate legal remedy.Speaking on places of worship disputes, including the Gyanvapi case, Madani said courts should resolve such disagreements in accordance with the Constitution and the law. He said that if local stakeholders accept the court’s decision, it should be implemented.BOXMadani calls for harmony; Jaising urges action against hate crimesJamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani on Saturday said politics based on hatred and religious division weakens the country’s social fabric and undermines national unity. Addressing the Hindu Muslim Unity Convention Against Communalism and Hatred, he said love, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence are the only effective response to growing social polarisation.Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, who also addressed the convention, called for an end to mob lynchings in the name of cow protection, alleged bulldozer actions and anti-conversion laws enacted in the name of religion. She said remaining non-political should not mean remaining silent in the face of injustice.Jaising also expressed solidarity with students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. She said unemployment and the lack of opportunities affect young people across communities and deserve greater public attention.Recalling Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind’s history, Jaising said the organisation opposed the Two Nation Theory before Independence and consistently stood for a united India.She added that its long-standing commitment to equality, secularism and democracy reflects the principle that every person born in India belongs equally to the nation, irrespective of religion.INSETAction on Jauhar University politically motivated: NizamiMaulana Sufiyan Nizami has criticized action against Jauhar University, saying students from all religions study there. He called the decision politically and constitutionally wrong, urging that educational institutions be kept free from politics.
