By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Like ordinary Muslims and intellectuals, Muslim religious organizations and institutions are sharply divided over the Indo-US nuclear deal. However, they are united in condemning the efforts of some political parties to attach Muslim interest with the deal.
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Mujtaba Farooq, political affairs secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, categorically rejected the deal, saying it is not in the interests of the country. He is critical of the UPA government at the centre for not making public the deal – its positive and negative aspects. Farooq opposes the deal for two reasons: first, the heavy cost and environmental impacts of nuclear energy and second the political implications of the deal. “Why nuclear energy is must the government could not justify. Conventional sources can give more energy and at comparatively less cost”, he said.
The more important aspect of the deal is its likely negative impacts on the independent foreign policy of the country, Farooq said, adding that the deal is a design by the US to remain superpower of the world. “Muslims are opposing it in the wake of America’s geopolitical excesses in Iraq and Afghanistan and its threats to Iran,” said Farooq and added that these countries have been friend to India and the US policies in that region are against India’s foreign policy, he said.
But Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) has different approach. It neither supports the deal nor opposes. If the nuke deal is in India’s interests, it will benefit all including Muslims and if not, everyone will be harmed, said Abdul Hameed Nomani, national spokesperson of JUH, talking to TwoCircles.net.
He, however, strongly condemned the efforts of some political parties including CPM and BSP to give a Muslim colour to the deal. “The issue should not be seen in the context of Muslims. It is not a Muslim issue. It is a national issue and should be seen keeping in view the national interests. It has nothing to do with religion and community,” he said adding that communalization of the issue will only benefit the commuanlists.
However, several Muslim religious leaders and Ulema have applauded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for stating that the deal is anti-Muslim. Those who met her at her residence in Lucknow this week and appreciated her approach included senior Shia leader Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahli and Maulana Abdul Aleem Farooqi.
Abdul Hameed Nomani of JUH while criticizing these leaders said Muslim should look at the issue in the national interests. He, however, asked the government to clarify the issue before the nation. “It should clear whether the deal will affect India’s foreign policy and Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project,” he said. India should be careful about its energy interests and sovereignty and independence of foreign policy, he said.
Meanwhile, Darul Uloom Deoband (Wakf) has also opposed the communalization of the N-deal. Mufti Ehsan Qasmi and Maulana Abdullah Javed have said that the Indo-US deal has nothing to do with Muslims. The parties which have attached the issue with Muslims have done for their own interests, they said. They echoed JUH approach that India’s political leadership and scientists should decide whether or not the deal is in the interests of the country. The issue should not be communalized, they said.