Avoid war, hold dialogue to resolve disputes: Muslim body to Centre

New Delhi: Condemning the Uri terror attack, an Islamic body on Saturday urged the Centre to take all possible steps to avoid war with Pakistan and suggested that the two sides hold dialogue to resolve the disputes.

Addressing a press conference here, office-bearers of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) also flagged concerns over alleged slow pace of probe in the Mewat double murder and gangrape incident as it claimed that the handling of the case indicates the Haryana government is "shielding" culprits.

They also hit out at the BJP government in Assam over its anti-illegal immigrant drive, alleging that the members of the Muslim community there are being harassed in the name of the initiative.

"We strongly condemn the (Uri) terror attack and death of the soldiers. (But) both India and Pakistan must show wisdom and sincerity using path of dialogue and consultation in order to resolve their issues.”

"War is not a panacea for our problems. India must take all steps to avoid war with Pakistan," JIH president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari told reporters, according to a statement.

He also asked the government to devise ways to curb breach of security "like it happened in the Uri incident".

Further targeting the Haryana government over the Mewat incident, he alleged that the handling of the case suggests the Manohar Lal Khattar dispensation is "trying to shield culprits and side with a particular community".

Haryana government had on September 20 handed over to CBI the probe into the murder case of a couple and alleged gangrape of two girls in Mewat on the intervening night of August 24 and 25 in which their kin had suspected the role of cow vigilantes.

JIH secretary general Muhammad Salim Engineer, who also briefed the press, voiced concerns over Assam government's anti-illegal immigrant drive and claimed many community members have been put in jail without proper probe.