The acting ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has congratulated BJP and Narendra Modi over their recent landslide victory in the Indian elections.
Maqbul Ahmed issued the following statement on JI’s official website on Friday. In the statement Ahmed congratulates Modi over the landslide victory of Bharatia Janata Party (BJP) led NDA alliance in the 16th Lokshova election of India.
“I am congratulating Norendra Modi and the BJP leaders for the landslide victory of BJP led NDA alliance in the 16th Lokshova election of India. I hope and believe that NDA government led by Norendra Modi will rule the country on the basis of communal harmony and democratic values.
“Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is always keen to maintain a cordial and dignified relationship with neighbouring India. Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami also believes that the existing issues between Bangladesh and India could be solved through dialogue and amicable solution. The people of Bangladesh are expecting that responsible and rational initiative from the upcoming government of Narendra Modi in neighbouring India.”
Anti-Muslim controversy
Modi is regarded by his critics as failing to intervene in communal violence in the Gujarat area 12 years ago.
At least a thousand people, mainly Muslims, were killed in Gujarat over three days of violence that was sparked by an attack on a train, which was initially believed to have been carried out by Muslims.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
The Modi government had imposed curfews, issued shoot-at-sight orders and called for the army to prevent the violence from worsening but the combined strength of the army and state police proved insufficient.
The Gulbarg Society massacre took place on 28 February 2002, when a Hindu mob attacked a Muslim neighbourhood in Chamanpura, Ahmedabad. Most of the houses were burnt, and at least 35 victims including a former Congress Member of Parliament, Ehsan Jafri, were burnt alive, while 31 others went missing after the incident, later presumed dead, bringing the total deaths to 69 in that area alone.
In April 2009, the Supreme Court of India appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into Modi’s role in the incidents of communal violence. The SIT reported to the court in December 2010 submitting that they did not find any incriminating evidence against Modi of wilfully allowing communal violence in Gujarat. The SIT absolved Modi of any involvement in the Gulbarg Society massacre in April 2012.
Mohammed Patel from Leicester said to 5Pillarz: “This man gave indirect consent to the genocide of Muslims in Gujarat. I lost many family members and friends back in 2002. He and his party BJP are renowned for their hatred towards Islam and Muslims.”
Human rights activist, Hamza Patel from London said to 5Pillarz: “Narendra Modi is an Islamophobic politician and the BJP is an infamous hate party against the Muslim minority of India. What happen to Muslim women and children during the Gujarat riots was horrendous.”
