By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Ulema Council of Uttar Pradesh, formed after the infamous Batla House encounter, will now contest forthcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra as Rashtriya Ulema Council.
The party president Amir Rashadi told media persons yesterday in a press conference that extending its scope the party will field candidates in all 288 Maharashtra assembly seats.
He said that all political parties especially Congress have been exploiting Muslims in the name of secularism since the very day of independence. ‘This will no longer exist. We will come on the road against injustice, torture and discrimination meted out on the Muslims.’
In a harsh criticism of Congress Rashadi said that party has the longest ruling term in post-independence time and in the guise of secularism it always exploited Muslims. In the outset it put all the responsibility for the division of India over Muslims, then directed irreparable harm to them through communal riots. ‘Now, the educated and innocent Muslim youths are being trapped in false terrorism cases.’
Besides describing ‘terrorism’ an imported object from America and Israel’s friendship Rashadi blamed that government too was involved in terrorism.
He asked from the state government that Ismail Yusuf College, Hajj House and Waqf properties should be handed over to the Muslims. Emphasizing on the earliest release of the Muslim youths arrested in connection with Malegaon 2006 blasts he said that it was necessary especially in the light of the present ATS chief Raghuvanshi’s view that ‘the real culprits have been arrested’.
‘Why the Sri Krishna Commission report is yet to be implemented,’ he asked ‘while the minister who had knocked the door for the same has been on an important post.’
When told that UDF is already in Maharashtra and the floating of Ulama Council will divide Muslim votes Rashadi reportedly said, ‘Maulana Badruddin Ajmal in the beginning spoke against Congress but after the election results he gave his support to the UPA. We are not like him. Congress is more dangerous than BJP.’ He added that they are contacting small local parties.