Muslim party unity gets premier boost

In an unprecedented move, Nadwatul Ulema, Lucknow, the country’s premier institution of Islamic learning, has decided to join a campaign aimed at bringing smaller political parties on a common platform to prevent splintering of Muslim votebank. The Nadwa College has never associated itself with any political activity in the past.

The decision was announced at a meeting of the Ittehad-e-Millat Convention, an organisation working to promote unity among Muslims. “Our Muslim brethren will get their due importance in the Indian society only if they raise their voice unitedly,” said Millat president Siraj Mehdi on Thursday at the opening of the meeting held on Nadwa College campus.

Revered Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad, Lucknow’s Naib Imam, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, and Nadwa principal Maulana Sayeed-ur-Rahman Azmi Nadvi are among the prominent Muslim leaders who hailed the campaign for Muslim unity.

Leaders at the convention demanded implementation of the recommendations made by Rangnath Mishra and Sachchar committees on reservations for Dalit Muslims and better education for Muslim girls. They also demanded a separate quota for Muslim women in the Women’s Reservation Bill recently introduced in parliament.

The meet said step-motherly treatment was being meted out to minorities by the government. They lamented that the Arabic-Persian University announced by Mayawati government in its budget remained on paper, and numerous madarsas were still awaiting grants despite regular announcements by governments.