New Delhi, December 4 (IANS). Political rhetoric continues on the statement of Jamiat Ulema-Hind chief Maulana Mahmood Madani on ‘Jihad’. In this sequence, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Afzal Ansari gave his reaction and openly supported Mahmood Madani regarding the word ‘Jihad’.
He blamed the media for the word ‘Jihad’ and said that the word ‘Jihad’ was misused to spread hatred. SP MP Afzal Ansari said that different definitions of ‘Jihad’ like ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Spit Jihad’ have been created. The word ‘Jihad’ was used extensively to spread hatred.
Meanwhile, he defined ‘Jihad’ as struggle and said, “Whenever there is oppression, protesting against that oppression is ‘Jihad’.”
Afzal Ansari said in his statement, “Maulana Madani’s father and grandfather remained in jail for about 20 years during the struggle for independence. Theirs was only a ‘jihad’ against the ‘British rule’. In this way, there was a struggle to liberate the motherland against the British rule, which is called Jihad.”
On ‘Vande Mataram’, Afzal Ansari said, “What is Mother-e-Watan? It is an Urdu word. You like ‘Vande Mataram’ in Hindi. You should understand its meaning. We praise Mother-e-Watan, but you add to it and ask, ‘Why can’t you worship it?’ This is your own thinking.”
He said that whoever respects the Motherland and can lay down his head to protect her, his passion for the love of his country is incomparable in itself.
Meanwhile, the SP MP mentioned the Taliban government of Afghanistan. He said, “The Taliban waged a long ‘jihad’ against American oppression and ultimately the American army had to leave the country. For years, the Taliban were called ‘jihadis’ and terrorists in India. The government continued to consider the Taliban as a regime of fundamentalists, but Taliban leaders came to Delhi and were welcomed here. Now neither are the Taliban being considered jihadists nor are they being called terrorists.”
Earlier, Mahmood Madani had said in his statement, ‘Whenever there is oppression, there will be Jihad.’ Leaders of political parties and different religious leaders have expressed their objection to this statement of Maulana, terming it as immoral and against one class.
–IANS
DCH/
