By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Several eminent Muslim clerics turned up at Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s dinner hosted by party MLA Shahid Manzoor yesterday evening in Lucknow. Though the dinner was part of Yadav’s dinner diplomacy for some time to overcome the impacts, if any, of party leader Amar Singh’s exit, Ulema said they had nothing to do with politics and they came on personal invitation.
“We came on personal invitation and have nothing to do with the political developments, we will support those who come out openly for the cause of our community, presently it is the Muslim reservation issue which will be taken up with political parties,” said Maulana Gulzar Qasmi, state president Milli Council. Other prominent clerics including Principal Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema,Lucknow, Maulana Saeedur Rehman and vice-principal Maulana Abdul Aziz Bhatakali too termed the event as personal function.
Continuing its dinner diplomacy, SP organized the dinner by Shahid Manzoor, the MLA from Meerut for conveying the message of solidarity in party ranks. “This is an informal dinner and we will not discuss politics. All decisions will be taken by Mulayam Singh and we will abide by it,” said Manzoor. On Azam Khan issue, he candidly admitted that Muslim MLAs have conveyed to party high command that who have deserted the party can be inducted but on party’s term and conditions. The sentiments were shared by MLAs Iqbal Mahmood and Waqar Shah besides host of other Muslim leaders.
‘Azam Khan is welcome to join us but on party terms,’ was the sentiments conveyed to Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav by his Muslim MLAs at the dinner. Mulayam however refusing to comment deferred the party decision for party forum.
“Don’t expect anything here, it is a social function but politics is discussed when politicians meet. Any decision will be taken after consulting all party leaders,” said Mulayam who arrived along with his brother Shivpal.
The dinner also witnessed presence of Raghuraj Pratap Singh Raja Bhaiyya who admitted that he has revived the dinner diplomacy in state’s political scene. “Earlier such dinners were a routine fixture during budget session, people used to frequent each other and exchange ideas, now all that thing has been buried in this regime,” he said. Raghuraj stated that kshatriyas and muslims are solidly behind Mulayam’s Samajwadi Party. “Just wait for 2012 elections and you will realize that all topics of some leaders (Amar Singh) are irrelevant,” he said.