Hyderabad: In a significant development, Jammaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has decided to extend support to secular forces to check communal forces from coming to power in the next general election.

"This was resolved at the five-day meeting of JIH's Central advisory council (Majlis-e-Shoora), which concluded on June 13. The meeting also approved its policy and programme for the next four years," JIH president Dr Abdul Haq Ansari told a press conference.

"JIH would impress upon voters to support the candidates and political parties, which protect secularism in the country and strive for the Muslim cause," he said. He, however, made it clear that "JIH will not contest elections".

Replying to a question, he said the Jammaat would play an effective role in the elections to defeat communal forces from coming to power.

"The JIH would join hands with secular forces to avoid the repetition of 'shameful acts' like genocide in Gujarat," he added.

The country is facing many grave problems of moral degeneration, communalism, rampant corruption, criminalisation of politics, violation of human rights and marginalisation of certain sections of society, he said.

The Jammaat would expose the hatred and prejudice spread by communal elements and make efforts to counter the poisonous propaganda of communal outfits, which are out to divide the people, Ansari added.

PTI