National Conference Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, on Tuesday, slammed the central government as authorities in Jammu and Kashmir began profiling mosques and Madrassas.
Ruhullah sharply criticised the move, saying, “The agenda of the Right-wing RSS is to control other religions, especially one sect that does not subscribe to their ideology in the country. The constitution of this country allows each individual to practise their religion freely; this kind of surveillance, restrictions, and control is an attack on the constitution itself.”
“When several intelligence agencies, including CID, IB, Army, Police and Paramilitary, are already working in Jammu and Kashmir, and the details demanded in the proforma are already available to the Government of India, then the idea of this whole exercise appears to threaten a particular ideology,” he said.
The officials said that the proforma has been provided to village numberdars (village-level revenue department employees) for getting the details of mosques, madrassas, imams (prayer leaders), teachers and management committee members of these institutions.
The focus of the profiling drive is on the finances of mosques and madrassas, including their source of funds used for construction, renovation and meeting the day-to-day expenses, they added.
According to the proforma details of teachers of madrassas and imams, including their Aadhaar card, bank account, property ownership, social media handles, passport, ATM card, ration card, driving licence, SIM cards, and mobile phone model, along with the IMEI number, are also being collected under the process.
“During the investigation into the ‘white collar’ terror module, which was busted in November last year, it came to light that some of the suspects were radicalised through madrassas or social media. The role of some imams, like Moulvi Irfan, has also put them under the scanner,” the official said.
Besides, the proforma also demands the details about the Muslim school of thought—Barelvi, Deobandi, Hanafi or AhleHadeeth—the mosque or the madrassa is following. Though there are concerns being raised over the granular data being asked of the members of the committee, as well as imams.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police, with the help of UP Police and Haryana Police, busted a ‘white collar’ terror module in the first week of November last year.
Nine people, including three doctors, were arrested, and 2,900 kg of explosives were seized with the uncovering of the module involving Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, spanning across Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Among those arrested were Dr Adeel Rather in Saharanpur, Dr MuzammilGanaie in Faridabad and Dr Shaheen from Lucknow.
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