By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow : Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, the cleric expelled from the core committee of Team Anna’s anti graft movement a few days back, is now facing an identity crisis.
Hailing from Bijnaur district, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi shot into limelight when he spearheaded the Polio eradication movement in the district. Nearly a decade ago, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi started participating in the polio eradication programme from his Mohalla Qazipada in Bijnaur district. He later expanded his wings and was active in district level social activities.
Known for his ambitions, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi surprised the Bijnaur residents when he was seen at the programmes of Sri Sri Ravishanker in Bangalore. Later he also drifted towards Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev in 2010 in his black money agitation. Finally he landed with Anna Hazare’s anti graft movement. His closeness to Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan earned him a place in the core committee of Team Anna. The Bhushans also hail from Bijnaur district.
On Sunday he was expelled from the core committee of Team Anna on charges of recording the proceedings of the meeting and leaking them out. Mufti Qasmi also targeted the Team Anna members mainly Arvind Kejriwal and new entrant Shazia Ilmi.
In political circles at Lucknow, the expulsion is seen with another angle. Sources claimed that Mufti Shamoon Qasmi had a meeting recently with Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav which led to his expulsion from Team Anna.
Though he may have emerged as a Muslim face in Team Anna and his anti graft movement Mufti Shamoon Qasmi now is facing an identity crisis. He holds sizeable following in his home district Bijnaur and the supporters are hopeful that the developments will have no effect on his stature.
In the past also Mufti Shamoon Qasmi has been with controversies. He was declared a defaulter by UP’s Minority Financial and Development Corporation for an outstanding amount of Rs 1.65 lakhs against him. When the matter became public Mufti Shamoon Qasmi had a talk with officials and also political support was roped in. Finally the settlement was reached and Mufti Shamoon Qasmi deposited Rs 1.15 lakhs to the corporation. At that time Mufti Shamoon Qasmi maintained that he had taken loan and not committed any sin.