Against the backdrop of allegations that Anna Hazare has links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal on Monday tried to reach out to Muslims to clear the “misconception”.
Donning a scull cap, Kejriwal said he had come to quell the propaganda that the movement was anti-Muslim, Dalit and against the Constitution spread by the corrupt and the government.
He was surrounded by Maulanas and individuals belonging to various Muslim organizations. While Muslims said they support the fight against corruption after their “doubts were cleared”, Team Anna members stated that they will be “vocal on communal issues”.
The statement, however, came in the midst of protest from another section within the Muslim community. They objected to the ‘fascist’ forces supporting the movement and the “hidden agenda of replacing secular forces with communal ones” at the Center. In fact, the meeting had to be shifted from Islam Gymkhana where it was to be held earlier. The meeting took place at the office premises of the Mumbai Aman Committee.
The meeting was attended by members of the All India Ulema Council (AIUC), Jamiat Ulema Hind (Arshad Madni faction), Ahle Hadees, Mumbai Aman Committee, Raza Foundation, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) of Zakir Naik, Jamaat-e-Islami and others. The meeting was held after Congress leaders accused Anna Hazare of an RSS agent. They had even circulated Anna’s pictures with prominent RSS leader Nanaji Deshmukh. “Other Congress leaders too have been photographed with him. They keep accusing Anna of being a bhagoda. Why do they not take any action against him,” said Kejriwal. He accused Rahul Gandhi of altering the Constitution.
“Corruption is an issue that concerns us all. We had certain doubts like the issue of funding and no strong voice of the Muslim leaders. They have cleared our doubts. We had earlier too stated that we are supporting the cause of corruption,” said Hakim Mehmood Dariyabadi, AIUC secretary.
Maulana Mustaqeem Azmi, president of Jamiat Ulema and member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said: “The issue is supported on three principles. They are humanity, Indianness, and Islam. Islam teaches that a person who does not fight corruption is not a Muslim. Corruption is eating up our country.”
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