By Faisal Fareed, Twocircles.net,
Lucknow: This will hit Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh hard, tarnishing his “Mullah Mulayam” image. His one time colleague and now Union Cabinet Minister for steel, Beni Prasad Verma has spilled the beans. On Sunday as Mulayam vent out his passion in Delhi, accusing Congress for being anti Muslim, his old pal, Verma in a candid chat with Faisal Fareed of Twocircles.net in Lucknow claimed that Mulayam was not interested in saving Babri Masjid.
You have been associated with Mulayam Singh for three decades and once again he has claimed himself as champion of Muslim cause. What is your reaction to his statement accusing Congress for being anti-Muslim?
Mulayam has been exposed and he is not speaking the truth. His Muslim image has been built on false pretext of saving Babri masjid. He was no where involved in saving the mosque. It is all his false claims done to get Muslim votes.
Beni Prasad Verma
He claims to have ordered firing on karsevaks to save Babri Masjid in 1990.
No, he was in fact not even aware of the developments. The then chief secretary first rang him up and informed him about the incident. Later, he called me also and informed me about the developments. When I asked Mulayam, he stated to remain quiet as the developments are going to help him politically. The chief secretary had informed me that the firing on karsewaks was an impromptu exercise done by the police and Mulayam as chief minister had never ordered this.
It means Mulayam has betrayed the Muslims over Babri Masjid issue for so long?
Yes, he has ditched the Muslim community. He just extracted political mileage from the incident. He succeeded in his effort and branded all others as anti Muslims.
What about 1992, when Babri Masjid was finally demolished? What was Mulayam’s reaction over the incident?
He never ventured out after the incident. I was the first one go out to Faizabad and Ayodhya after the Babri Masjid demolition. I along with All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Zafaryab Jilani, went there and extended all possible help. I arranged for the last rites of several Muslims who were killed after the incident at a madarsa in Raunahi, Faizabad. And believe me Mulayam did not like my visit. He asked me to remain quiet as party is going to benefit after the incident.
But Mulayam continued to get Muslim support and Congress was in wilderness after the incident.
Yes, Mulayam is a ‘Vote Ka Saudaghar’ and he did manage things well politically and benefited from the incident. He was happy after the Babri Masjid demolition..
But Mulayam claims that he has been pro-Muslim and even gave them jobs during his regime as chief minister in the state.
He is good at telling lie. During his chief ministership a total of 22500 police constables were recruited. Most of them were from Etawah, Etah, Bulandshaher and his area of clout. Money exchanged openly and whatever Muslims succeeded in it also had to pay at least five lakhs. The total presence of Muslims was less than one percent.
It means his party is anti Muslim?
You can very well see, where are the Muslim leaders in his party? Saleem Sherwani, a three time MP was denied tickets from Badayun to make way for his nephew, Shafeequr Rehman Barq, Afzal Ansari and even Ateeq Ahmed, Azam Khan were shown the door at one point of time. Mulayam used them and later humiliated all of them
But do you think Congress has done its bit for Muslims?
Well, it is a matter of fact that Muslims need special concessions from the overnment. Steps are being taken in this regard by the government. Even our leader Rahul Gandhi is focusing on Muslim, Kisan and Dalit. His visits are in dalit areas, meeting the weavers and is doing all efforts to sooth them.
And what will be your role in Muslim upliftment within your party?
My credentials for espousing Muslim issues are well known. Media brands me as a backward community but I have more acceptability among Muslim masses. It can be seen in any Muslim dominated area of the state. This assembly election in the state we are vying for majority to form government. Things will change for everyone and better days
are ahead for Muslims.