Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net
Lucknow: Thousands of workers converged at Mini Stadium in Vikas Nagar during the rally organised by Rashtriya Ulema Council (RUC) on Saturday. The Congress remained at their target as RUC leaders decried its anti-muslim approach.
The rally was organised exactly after one year by the Azamgarh based Rashtriya Ulama Council (RUC) formed in wake of Batla House encounter in 2008. Earlier, on February 20, 2009 it has held a rally at historical Tile Wali Masjid in Lucknow.
“We are born against terror, state terrorism and tarnishing of Azamgarh’s image. You deny judicial probe in police encounters on grounds that it will demean the moral of police but what about the moral of 20 crores muslims,” remarked Maulana Amir Rashadi Madni, the national president of the council.
Taking a dig at recent visit by Digvijay Singh in Azmagarh, Madni claimed that the Congress leader changed his stand once he left the district. “For two years perhaps he was sleeping and did not take any notice of Azamgarh. Earlier, he has uttered similar things but retracted on grounds that it is his personal opinion, it was for this reason we opposed his visit,” said Maulana Madni.
Maulana Amir Rashadi addressing the rally
Despite their reservation against Congress, the maulana opined that they will welcome Rahul Gandhi if he visits Azamgarh after settling the Malegaon blast case. “Congress is playing dual policy and MCOCA invoked against two accused nailed by Hemant Karakare has been lifted while the previous 15 are still languishing in jail. Rahul should put an end to this double game policy adopted by Congress then he is welcome in Azamgarh,” said Madni.
For the state government the RUC adopted a middle path claiming that it has done no harm or good for the muslims.
The leaders stressed that RUC will play a larger role in coming days and it will strive for the rights of all downtrodden and deprived sections. “We will continue to wage our battle for the rights of youths by using the provisions under Indian constitution,” he said.
The rally also witnessed participation by Sanjay Chouhan, the national president of Janwadi Party who pledged his support to RUC for all its battles. Resentment was written large on the faces of the rallyists with several of them displaying placards claiming- ‘We are from Azamgarh and we are not terrorist’.