The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani has taken strong objection to Assam chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s leader Himanta Biswa Sarma’s controversial remarks made in Bihar’s Siwan, where he had spoken about “shutting down shops producing mullahs” and “ending the business of four marriages”.
“Such divisive and inflammatory comments not only undermine the secular fabric of our nation but also incite hatred and discord among communities. The Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the right to practice and propagate their religion freely. Any attempt to vilify or target a particular community based on their religious practices is unacceptable and goes against the principles of justice and equality enshrined in our Constitution,” said the Maulana.
Speaking at an election rally on Saturday in Siwan, Sarma had said, “Give Modi 400 seats, Uniform Civil Code will come and we will shut this business of marrying four times (chaar shaadi karne ka dukaan)… Just like we ended Article 370, we will end the system of four marriages (khalaas kar dunga). The country has changed… When I became the chief minister for the first time in Assam three years ago, an official came to me with a file asking for my signature. It was about madrasa teachers’ salaries. I asked, what is this madrasa? The one where mullahs are made (jo mullah banaata hai)? I said, our money, you will give to the shop that produces mullahs, how can this be? Shut this shop from today… Today, in Assam, we have shut 700 madrasas, but no one dares raise their voice.”
Sarma had further said, “Because this new India. It’s not Lalu Prasad’s India, this is Modi’s India, it is our India, it is Hindus’ India. And whoever clashes with this new India, they will reach the home of yamraj (the god of death)… We will no longer let shops that make mullahs run. We will work on making doctors, engineers… Modi ji needs 400 seats. We need to bring a Uniform Civil Code, we need to make Krishna Janmabhoomi, we need to make Gyanvapi temple, we need to end reservation to Muslims.”
Responding to Sarma’s comments, the Maulana said, “The sacrifices of the graduates of these madrassas in the country’s freedom struggle cannot be forgotten in any way. Therefore, talking about religious madrassas like this is actually an insult to the country. These institutions have played a significant role in shaping the moral and educational foundation of our nation.”
The Maulana called upon all political leaders to refrain from making such provocative statements and to focus on issues that unite the nation rather than those that divide it. “It is the responsibility of our leaders to promote inclusivity and work towards the welfare of all citizens, regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds,” he underlined.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has urged the Election Commission of India to take cognisance of such statements and ensure that the principles of free and fair elections are upheld, free from divisive and communal rhetoric.