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Author: Pioneer News Service
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 16, 2006
Claiming to be "upset at being treated as a vote-bank by various political parties over the years", a group of Muslim outfits launched their own political outfit - People's Democratic Front - on Monday.
While Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Ahmad Bukhari, will be its patron, prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad has been named Chairman.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, Jawwad said Muslims had been exploited by various political outfits over the years which did little for their uplift. "The time has come for us to seek participation in power," said Jawwad. The People's Democratic Front (PDF) will have poll adjustments with like-minded parties during the elections, Jawwad added. The nascent outfit plans to contest around 150 seats in the next Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.
Jawwad also hinted at the "bias against the community" by the present regime. He said, "1,800 constables were recruited by the present regime of which nearly a 1,000 were Yadavs. There were only 30 Muslims."
He asked, "If the 7 per cent Yadavs in the State and 12 per cent Dalits can occupy power in Uttar Pradesh, why can't the 22 per cent Muslims do so?"
Observers feel the advent of a Muslim political party can have a deep impact on Uttar Pradesh politics, provided the organisation succeeds in keeping its flock together. Except for the BJP, the three main political parties in the State - the Congress, SP and the BSP - rely heavily on the Muslim vote-bank.
By adding a new dimension to the caste-based politics of Uttar Pradesh, the PDF can emerge to be a king-maker in the State in its first brush with power, analysts feel.
Setting aside apprehensions over the success of such a body, Jawwad said the community had learnt from its past mistakes and the PDF would not fail as it had the support and blessing of the ulema and had chalked out its working with various political and religious groups.
In reply to a question, Jawwad said firebrand leader Haji Yakoob Qureshi, who has offered Rs 51 crore prize money for the murder of the Danish cartoonists who lampooned the Prophet, was welcome to join the PDF, provided he quits the Mulayam Singh Yadav Ministry and the Samajwadi Party.
Though Jama Masjid Shahi Imam could not attend the launch, several prominent Muslim leaders attended the meeting. Among them were Imam of Masjid Teela Shah Maulana Shah Fazlur Rehman Waizi, Maulana Jahangeer Qasimi, Maulana Saif Abbas, president of Jamat-e-Islami Hind Mohammad Ahmad Ameer, president of Majlise Mashawarat UP Mehabob Ahmad, president of All-India Muslim Forum Nehaluddin, president of Momin Conference Naimullah Ansari, president of Parcham Party of India Saleem Peerzada, president of Indian National League, Dr Khan Mohammad Atif and Dr Masood Ahmad and Arshad Khan of NLP.
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