Modi aide says Muslim bodies have lost relevance

“In AIMPLB, except its president Maulana Rabey Hasan Nadwi, rest all are fools. I feel that Muslim bodies like AIMPLB have no vision. They have failed to prioritise their issues,” Sareshwala told The Indian Express on Thursday.

He added: “There are other bodies like the Muslim Majlis Mushawarrat which became defunct in 1964, but still its dead body is being carried on by some Muslim leaders. It is stinking now. Another is Milli Council. These are all redundant.”

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Sareshwala also lashed out at Muslim leaders stating that most of them clamour for posts in various Muslim bodies at the cost of the community’s development.

“When I was meeting Modi, only Rabey Hasan supported me. I personally presented Rabey Hasan’s books to Modi who after reading them wrote a letter to Hasan. Rest all called me a sycophant who has sold his conscience,” he said at the residence of Maulana Salman Nadwi who is also a faculty member of Nadwatul Uloom.

When contacted over Sareshwala’s statement, AIMPLB executive committee member, Zafaryab Jilani said, “It is an irresponsible and unfortunate statement by a person who is holding such an important post.”

Sareshwala, who was in the state capital for a one-day trip, said, “I have hopes from Muslim youths. I am spreading this message during my various trips—-don’t become rubber stamp in any political party. These secular parties including Congress have done more harm to the community.”

He also claimed that it is a misconception that Modi is against Muslims. “Muslims have made more progress during his 12 years rule in Gujarat than past several decades. Except the 2002 riots, there is no other issue. Modi believes in giving opportunities to Muslims and stopping discrimination,” he stated and claimed that he conveyed the same message to Rabey Hasan.

Sareshwala claimed that Modi is all set to increase the funding to Ministry of Minority Affairs in the coming budget. “Already, the plan has been increased by 12 per cent and will be increased further. Muslims will get the message in this budget. It is due to this that Assam’s MP Badruddin Ajmal is supporting Modi’s government,” he said. “What we have seen is that the government just appoints its cronies who are Muslim leaders in various bodies like Waqf Board, Haj Committee. I would prefer a qualified non-Muslim to head the Waqf than a non-performing Muslim candidate.”

“I have seen just one Muslim, MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who raises Muslim issues in Parliament. Rest all remained dumb in previous Lok Sabha,” he added.

Further, Sareshwala stated that the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) will soon get its own campus here while talks are on over signing a deal with Islamic University in Malaysia. Already an MoU has been signed between three industrial houses for providing jobs and training to MANUU students.