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"Apologise to Muslims"

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: Former Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party president, Ms Mayawati's controversial remarks on Muslims' `preference' for fundamentalist leaders continued to evoke strong reaction with the controversial U.P. Minister of State for Haj and Minority Welfare, Haji Yaqub Qureshi, demanding a public apology from her.

"Ms Mayawati should apologise to the Muslims or else the minority community will not sit silent on this issue," the Haji told The Hindu on Saturday.

Even as the Lohia Vahini of the Samajwadi Party burnt Ms. Mayawati's effigies at the district headquarters in protest against her statement, several Muslims vent their ire in Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Moradabad, Agra, Bijnor and Saharanpur by taking out protest demonstrations and torching her effigies.

The United Democratic Front had decided to appeal to the conscience of Muslim MLAs, MPs and supporters of the Bahujan Samaj Party to redefine their priorities in the light of her statement, and leave the BSP.

Haji Qureshi slammed the former Chief Minister for dubbing Muslims as fundamentalists and fanatics. The Minister said the statement was part of a strategy and even hinted at Ms Mayawati having a secret pact with the BJP. He warned Ms Mayawati that if she failed to render an unconditional apology, she will have to incur the wrath of the minority community in the next year's elections. "The Muslims will ensure that the BSP candidates lost their security deposits."

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"Apologise to Muslims"

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