The Hindu : National : Mayawati reaches out to Muslims

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Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008
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Mayawati reaches out to Muslims

Atiq Khan

For supporting her stand on the issue of India-U.S. nuclear deal

Mayawati

LUCKNOW: Following Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s initiative to solve the problems of Muslims, Sunni clerics on Tuesday demanded an equal share for Muslim girls in their fathers’ agricultural property and the constitution of a Muslim or Minority Development Board.

AIMPLB delegation

A 21-member delegation led by All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) president Maulana Rabey Hasni Nadwi presented a charter of demands to Uttar Pradesh Advisory Council Chairman Satish Chandra Mishra here.

The meeting was arranged at the behest of Ms. Mayawati after discussions with a delegation of clerics at her residence last week. Ms. Mayawati’s gesture was seen as a token of appreciation of their stand on the India-U.S. nuclear deal.

Tuesday’s meeting was preceded by the visit of Shia cleric and Imam-e-Juma of the historic Asafi Masjid in Lucknow Maulana Kalbe Jawwad to Ms. Mayawati’s residence. Maulana Jawwad, who is a member of the AIMPLB, thanked her for opposing the nuclear deal.

Assures support

Stating that the Muslims were happy with the Chief Minister’s stand, the Maulana assured Ms. Mayawati of the community’s support on the issue. He was accompanied by Mr. Mishra.

Taking exception to linking of terror acts to Muslims in general, the delegation urged the Bahujan Samaj Party government to ensure that innocent persons of the community were not arrested.

An accused should not be called a terrorist until the charges against him were proved, it said.

The delegation urged the government to write to the Centre for setting up a Muslim or Minority Planning Commission on the lines of the Planning Commission of India. The Naib Imam of Lucknow’s Aishbagh Idgah and Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, who was a member of the delegation, said the problems of the minority community could be better understood by Muslim officials.

Other demands

The other demands included payment of extra rent as per prevailing market rates for Wakf properties acquired by the government; annual grant of Rs. 2 crore to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Wakfs; setting up of a Urdu-Arabi-Parsi university and a central university on the pattern of Aligarh Muslim University; and the appointment of Muslim officials in remand homes keeping in view of the complaints of Muslim girls being married off to non-Muslims.

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