By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Lashing out at the Congress for being anti-Muslim, the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari announced support to Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadi Party (SP) in UP elections on Saturday.
Mulayam who was also present during the announcement at a conference held at Taj Hotel in Lucknow also promised to fulfill all the assurances and said he always regarded Imam Bukhari.
Bukhari rejected the 4.5 percent reservation to Muslims terming it as a bait by Congress which will lead to rift between the Muslims and OBC and also within the Muslim community with new groups as forwards and backwards. “It is a fleece and we will not fall in trap. We want reservation in proportion to our population, and not based on religious lines but on the social and economic backwardness of the Muslims,” he said.
Bukhari also raised the Batla House encounter stating that it was a fake encounter during Congress regime. “We want a judicial enquiry in the Batla House encounter. We also want an immediate end to the implication of Muslim youths in fake terror cases,” he said. Bukhari also accused the Congress for killing thousands of Muslims in thousands of riots which took place during its regime.
Over how he arrived at the conclusion to support SP, Bukhari stated that Mulayam has given us assurance over Muslim reservation which will be in proportion to the population, release of innocent youths in fake terror cases and also special emphasis on the development of Muslims.
Responding to a query regarding Kalyan Singh, Bukhari stated that Mulayam has admitted his party’s mistake and sought forgiveness from the community. “When anyone is seeking forgiveness we should be kind hearted and forgive him. Kalyan is not a factor in elections,” he said.
After the announcement, a spurt of emotional speeches by some Deoband educated maulanas namely Maulana Noorul Huda, Maulana Zainuddin and other followed.
The stage was now set for SP supremo Mulayam Singh to highlight his achievements and assurances to the Muslims. Mulayam announced that he will deliver more than expected to the Muslims. “I had given assurance and I will fulfill it, don’t be get cheated by 4.5 percent reservation as it is for minorities and not Muslims,” he said.
Regarding the support being extended to Congress led UPA government at the centre, Mulayam clarified that he had chosen between Advani and Congress and there was little option but he denied that there is any tacit understanding with the Congress.
SP had already mellowed Bukhari by giving ticket to his son-in-law Mohd Umar from Behat seat in Saharanpur. Umar was also present during the conference. When asked about the election, Umar remarked: “We will win the election and the Rasheed Masood factor is nowhere in Saharanpur. Just wait for the results,” he said.