Arshad Madani Condemns Congress for 'Soft' Approach After Gandhi's Assassination
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Arshad Madani launched a sharp attack on the Congress party this Wednesday. He blamed the grand old party for adopting a "soft and flexible" stance against religion-based hate politics after India's independence. Madani argued this approach inflicted long-term damage on the nation and its constitutional values.
Congress Failed to Crush Communalism After Gandhi's Killing
In a detailed post on social media platform X, Madani traced historical failures. He stated the Congress did not take a firm stand against communalism seventy-seven years ago. The party also failed to confront it decisively even after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
"Had the head of communalism been crushed firmly right after Gandhi's assassination, the country could have been saved from destruction," Madani wrote. He emphasized that the Congress's accommodative policy during its rule caused severe harm to both India and the Constitution.
Gandhi's Fast and the Killing of Secularism
Madani described Gandhi's assassination as the killing of India's secularism itself. He recalled how the Father of the Nation went on a fast to stop anti-Muslim riots after Partition. This action did not sit well with communal forces, Madani noted. Even some senior Congress leaders turned against Gandhi, leading to his tragic murder.
The Jamiat chief expressed deep regret over the Congress leadership's inaction. "What the Congress should have done at that time, it failed to do," he stated bluntly.
Historical Context: The Fight for a Secular Constitution
Madani provided crucial historical context about the framing of India's Constitution. He revealed that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind leaders secured a written assurance from Congress before independence. This promise guaranteed a secular constitution with complete religious freedom for all minorities.
However, after Partition, a significant section of Congress leaders argued against secularism. They claimed that since Pakistan was created for Muslims, India's constitution need not be secular. At this critical moment, Jamiat leadership held Congress accountable to its promise.
"If the country had been divided, it was they, not us, who signed that document," Madani quoted the Jamiat's firm stance. This pressure ultimately led to a secular constitution, but communalism continued to grow silently.
Missed Opportunities and Lasting Consequences
Madani pointed out that Congress held power at the Centre and in all provinces post-independence. The party could have enacted strict laws against communalism if it wished. Instead, its flexible policy allowed communal forces to strengthen over decades.
"Communal forces were treated with leniency," Madani wrote. "Strict legal action against them, as required by the Constitution and law, was avoided." This gave ample opportunity for divisive elements to grow and flourish.
The religious leader expressed concern about current times. He observed that seventy-seven years after independence, constitutional and democratic values face open trampling. "Even our freedom movement leaders could not have imagined this," he lamented.
A Call for Reflection and Accountability
Madani concluded with a powerful statement about historical responsibility. "If Congress had taken the same strict stand against communalism seventy-seven years ago that it claims now, it would not have been ousted from power," he asserted. "The country would not have reached the brink of destruction."
He emphasized that honest and full implementation of the Constitution along its founding principles would have prevented today's challenges. The Jamiat chief's remarks highlight ongoing debates about historical political choices and their contemporary consequences.
