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.
