Meerut, Dec. 2 -- A day after controversy erupted over President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Maulan Mahmood Madani's remarks over the meaning of "jihad," the Jamiat President, in an exclusive interview with ANI, clarified on his remarks and claimed that it is actually the Centre and state ministries which have put a negative association on the word, whereas its history is actually "pious" and the term is actually to fight against terrorists.

Saying that the term "jihad" is being used in a planned manner, he alleged that various terms, like "Love jihad, land Jihad, 'thook' jihad, and vote jihad," are being coined to abuse Muslims in the country.

"The entire ministry, be it centre, or be it state, have decided that if anything negative related...