Top Muslim leaders meet PM, Sonia on Muslim reservation

By TCN News,

New Delhi: In a big and rare show of unity, a delegation of top leaders of prominent Muslim organizations met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi here today to press the demand for Muslim reservation and passage of the Communal Riots Bill with proper amendments.
The delegation led by Maulana Qari Mohammad Usman, President of Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, submitted a memorandum on two issues of national interest i.e. Reservation to Muslims and Communal Riots Bill. The delegation that included Maulana Mahmood Madani, Jamiat Ulama leader and MP, Maulana Jalaluddin Umri, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan, ex-President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat among others urged the Prime Minister to declare his firm commitment on these two issues as the UPA Govt. had been expressing time and again its commitment to deliver justice and fair equal opportunity to most backward and weakest sections of society.

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“After listening to the delegation the Prime Minister first reacted by saying that please stop the ongoing Jail Bharo Andolan, meanwhile he shall be consulting his senior colleagues and try to create consensus on the issue,” said Niaz Ahmed Farooqui, secretary, Jamiat Ulama. The PM assured the delegation that he would try his best to resolve the issue. He acknowledged that there was no doubt that some sections of Indian society specially Muslims had been left behind and urgent steps were called for to provide to them fair and equal opportunity. In that direction he had already started the process and shall further expedite.

Mahmood Madani shaking hand with PM, Dr Zafrul Islam Khan and others can be seen

After meeting the Prime Minister the same delegation called upon Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA and President of Congress. The leaders specifically reminded her of her commitment to the issues of Minorities, backward and weakest section of society and requested her to use her position as UPA Chairperson to get the long pending demands on reservation to Muslims and communal riots bill accepted and passed through Parliament.

The leaders of Muslim organizations Maulana Jalaluddin Umri, Amir, Jamiat-e-Islami Hind, Dr. Zafrul Islam, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Kamal Farooqui, Dr. Qasim Rasool Ilyas, and two important social activist Swami Agnivesh ji and Mr. Mahesh Bhatt expressed their full support for the demands listed in the memorandum and told Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister that there was lot of simmering anguish in the most backward sections of the society because of the discrimination and injustice to the minorities. If the demands are not accepted the people would have no option but to join the nationwide Satyagarah launched by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Niaz Ahmed Farooqui added.

Maulana Mahmood Madani, MP and Leader of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, mentioned to the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi that UPA has completed one year today in his second term of power and while celebrating its first anniversary it would be most becoming gift to the people of the country if they give a positive message accepting the long overdue demands. The Delegation also expressed its deep condolence on the unfortunate Mangalore air crash and loss of 160 precious lives.

Jamiat delegation leaving Jamiat headquarters to meet PM

Jamiat leaders are trying to mobilize support of other political parties and leaders by directly talking to them on the issues. A meeting with Sitaram Yechury took place on 21st May 2010 at CPI(M) head office. Further meetings are being scheduled with A.B. Bardhan, Prakash Karat, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee and few other party leaders.

The delegation consisted of following members: