A major rally in Delhi by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind on Sunday to highlight pressing social and economic issues in the country had to be put off after the Delhi police withdrew permission for the event, apparently due to United States President Barack Obama's visit to the capital.
The prominent Muslim organisation, which was planning to bring in over 8,000 of its delegates to the rally from Ram Lila ground to Jantar Mantar, said the permission was withdrawn at the last minute despite the fact that it had been granted a month in advance.
The rally was supposed to bring together a number of speakers including Maulana Arshad Madani, the president of Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind and former Member of Parliament Syed Shahabuddin, among others.
The Jamaat said the Delhi police had withdrawn the permission citing the fact that the procession was to be held in a 'VIP security zone', without identifying the VIP.
"But there is little doubt that it is the US President for whose visit our fundamental right has been compromised," said JIH secretary general Nusrat Ali.
The rally on the theme 'Save the country from slavery, unrest and poverty', the Jamaat members said, was in no way related to Obama's visit though its was a coincidence that one of its key theme was raising a voice against 'neo-imperialism'.
"Our country is moving in the direction of becoming a slave of the country which Obama leads as the President. We wanted to oppose this onslaught on neo-imperialism, but the government apparently doesn't want us to do so," he said.
The organisation said the rally had been planned months in advance and the permission for it had been sought at least three months ago.
"Though in September the police cleared the rally, it was withdrawn on Friday. On this gross violation of human rights, we register our strong protest," he said.
The organisation now plans to hold a public meeting at Jamia Nagar on Sunday to protest the government's economic policies that are "increasing the divide between rich and poor".
