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Journalism of Courage
The Samajwadi Party is ready to take up the political challenge posed by the Muslim clergy in Uttar Pradesh, which has come together to look after the interests of the community.
A day after SP Minister Haji Mohammed Yakub Qureishi accused UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav of ignoring the community in his development plans, several Muslim organisations and religious scholars have come together to form the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) to promote the community’s cause.
The Front has charged the chief minister of ignoring Muslims and favouring Yadavs in recruitment to government jobs and posts. The PDF has also asked for quotas for the community.
SP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, however, believes everyone has the right to express his grievances, especially when the election is due in the state in February 2007.
‘‘The Assembly election will be a decisive battle and every section now wants a say. After all we are a democratic party and not under ‘family’ rule like the Congress,’’ said Singh.
Senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman warned the Muslims of a communal backlash if the community forged religion-based political groups.
‘‘These are religious heads who have called for Muslims to come together politically, and it is not a good sign. It will only strengthen the hands of the BJP who will then consolidate the Hindu vote against the community, ’’ said Suman.
The PDF said it has been buoyed by the success of the AUDF in Assam, which made crucial gains in the just concluded state election by appealing for votes on a Muslim platform. The Muslim political parties ‘‘have derived vigour and inspiration from the recently held Assembly elections in Assam where a similar Muslim outfit won significant number of seats,’’ said Front president Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawwad.
‘‘Assam is the size of Agra,’’ said Suman, ‘‘and the SP does not believe in caste or communal politics’’.
Singh is confident the Muslim community will not desert the SP and hence there is no cause for anxiety. ‘‘We are not like the Congress which hobnobs with the US, a country accused of murdering Muslims, and then claim to be their protectors. Instead, we will try our very best to address their problems,’’ he said.
vrindagopinath@expressindia.com
