Ahmedabad: The All India Milli Council (AMC) in its 17th National Convention held in Ahmedabad on December 19 demanded from the Gujarat High Court to delete the observations made by Justice J B Pardiwala on polygamy.
The resolution, passed in the day-long convention organised at Morarji Chowk, Bapunagar in Ahmedabad, received the impromptu support from hundreds of thousands of Muslims who gathered from all across the state in Ahmedabad despite chilling cold.
"We will not tolerate any interference in the Muslim personal law", Dr. Manzoor Alam Chairman of the All India Milli Council (AMC) said wais while refering to Justice Pardiwala's remarks made on November 05, 2015.
Justice Pardiwala while adjudicating on a petition by Jafer Abbas Merchant, who faced bigamy charges after marrying for a second time without his first wife's consent, recommended an amendment of Muslim personal law saying that in this day and age, the practice of polygamy is often driven by selfish motives.
"On the basis of modern progressive thinking, India must shun the practice (of polygamy) and establish a uniform civil code," said Justice JB Pardiwala.
Interestingly, Justice Pardiwala while hearing the Patidar leader Hardik Patel’s case had said that “corruption and reservation destroyed the progress of country. He however withdrawn his remarks after 58 MPs filed a notice in the Rajya Sabha for his impeachment.
The Muslim leaders said if the observation of Justice Pardiwala on polygamy is not withdrawn they will launch a movment against him.
Muslims gathered in Ahmedabad in such a huge number for the first time after the 2002 tragic riots in the state. Last time, Muslims had gathered to such a mass scale was in 1992 before Babri Masjid demolition when the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) organized its convention in Ahmedabad .
Speaking on the occasion, Muslim political and religious leaders reiterated that the community should unite against the saffron outfits in view pf rising intolerance and religious hatred in the country.
Abu Asim Azmi, President of Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) invoking the 2002 Gujarat riots said “I still remember the cruelties of police in Mumbai riot after Babri Masjid demolition. I can realize your pain who are living under the shadow of fascist power since 2002.
He appealed the people to unite against political fascism and intolerance. "Muslim should unite to gain political power", he said.
Former Deputy Speaker in Raya Sabha, K Rahman warned Muslims against secterian divide and urged them to come on a single platform.
“We should understand the policy of RSS to divide the Muslims among Shia, Sunni, Barelvi, Devbandi, Ahle Hadees etc. The RSS policy has been very well exposed by Subramanneyam Swami during an interview. We should be aware of what's going on i the country", he said.
"To unite the community is not a single day process, it’s a continuous 365 days process", he said.
Over one lakh Muslims compsrising politicians, clerics and eminent citizens from all over Gujarat gathered at Morarji Chowk, Bapunagar in Ahmedabad and about two thousand delegates came from outside Gujarat to participate in the convention.
Irshad Mirza, Secretary of the All India Congress Committee and a core member of Rahul Gandhi team who is considered as chief opponent of Sonia Gandhi’s political advisor Ahmed Patel was present as the Chief Guest of convention.
Most of the Muslim leaders from Gujarat Congress were present in the convention except Ahmed Patel and National President of Congress Minority Cell Khursheed Saiyed.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and Teesta Selavad were also invited to attend the convention but due to police pressure organizers avoided their visits.
Ghyasuddi sheikh, Daryapur MLA and convener of welcome committee for the convention, said, “Unity of Muslims is must but a good relation with Hindus is also required to survive in a secular country.
"A lot of Hindus came forward to fight against intolerance which is on rise in the country", he said.
Mufti Rizwan Tarapuri, President of All India Milli Council (Gujarat Chapter) vowed to work for the unity of Muslims and said to demonstrate the strength bigger than this before 2017 Gujarat Assembly election.
The huge number of Muslims who were present in the convention also raised slogans against Kamlesh Tiwari of Hindu Maha Sabha for his blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). Following this the All India Milli Council demanded maximum punishment for Tewari as per law.
Maulana Abdullah Mughaisi, Dr. Zafrul Islam, Maulana Kalbe Sadique, Maulna Mustafa Rifai, Maulana Abdul Wahab Khilji, Maulana Jalaluddin Umri, Mufti Shabbir Alam (Imam Shahi Masjid, Ahmedabad), Peer Badre Alam of Shahe Alam Dargah, Maulana Rafiq Badodvi, Abdul Quddus Nadvi, Shakil Rajpu of Jamat-e-Islami, Advocate Iqbal Shaikh of Waqf Council were also present as chief guests at the convention.
[Mohammad Kaleem Siddiqui is President of AIMC, Ahmedabad District]