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Journalism of Courage
Inspired by the success of Badruddin Ajmal’s Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) in the recent Assembly polls, Muslim political outfits and leading scholars in Uttar Pradesh today launched a political party, the Peoples’ Democratic Front (PDF), to contest the UP Assembly polls next year.
Bound to queer the political pitch, this move also spells trouble for Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party which counts on Muslims as a major support base.
“The PDF with the Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, as its patron has been launched to enable the Muslims to share power on the basis of their distinct electoral strength,” PDF president and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad told reporters.
He said PDF candidates would be fielded in the state polls as “there are 147 constituencies in UP where Muslims can ensure victory of their candidates”. The PDF brings together the All India Muslim Forum, National Loktantrik Party, Momin Conference of India, All India Muslim Majlis, Parcham Party of India and All India Muslim Mashwarat.
According to Jawwad, the doors of PDF were open to other Muslim outfits and it would align with like-minded parties.
“If the Yadavs who constitute 6-7 per cent of UP’s population can rule the state and Dalits with a population of around 13 per cent can taste power, why can’t Muslims, who make 23 per cent of the population, be given their share in politics,” said Jawwad.
Slamming Mulayam Singh, he cited the example of recruitment for 1,800 posts of policemen. “Only 30 Muslims, as against 1,000 Yadavs, were selected,” he claimed.
The PDF has been floated at a time when Mulayam Singh has come under criticism from two of his Muslim ministers, Urban Development Minister Mohd Azam Khan and Minority Welfare Minister Haji Yaqub Qureshi. Though both ministers are at loggerheads, they have been raising the issue of Muslims not being given their due by the Mulayam government.
atiq.khan@expressindia.com
