The Hindu : National : Mayawati must apologise: Minister

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Sunday, Nov 12, 2006
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Mayawati must apologise: Minister

Atiq Khan

Remarks on Muslims spark protests

LUCKNOW: The former Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party president, Mayawati's controversial remarks on the `preference' of Muslims 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," Mr. Qureshi 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 vented 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.

Mr. Qureshi slammed the former Chief Minister for dubbing Muslims as fundamentalists and fanatics.

He saw a motive behind her remarks.

The Minister said the statement was part of a strategy and hinted at Ms. Mayawati having a secret pact with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"The recent civic polls have exposed the BSP chief. Earlier she had formed a government with the BJP and she will again align with the saffron party. She is known to have supported Narendra Modi," he said.

He warned that if she failed to tender an unconditional apology, she would have to incur the wrath of the minority community in next year's Assembly elections.

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