The Hindu : National : Demand to set up a Muslim or Minority Development Board

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Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008
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Demand to set up a Muslim or Minority Development Board

Atiq Khan

Delegation of Sunni clerics meets Uttar Pradesh Advisory Council chief

“Ensure that innocent Muslims are not arrested”
Equal share sought for Muslim girls in fathers’ agricultural property

LUCKNOW: Following the initiative taken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati towards solving the problems of Muslims, leading clerics of the Sunni sect on Tuesday demanded equal share for Muslim girls in their fathers’ agricultural property and the constitution of a Muslim or Minority Development Board.

A 21-member delegation led by All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) president Maulana Rabey Hasni Nadwi met Uttar Pradesh Advisory Council Chairman Satish Chandra Mishra here and presented to him a charter of demands.

The meeting was arranged at the behest of Ms. Mayawati after her discussions with a delegation of Muslim clerics at her residence last week. Ms. Mayawati’s gesture was seen as a token of appreciation for their stand on the India-U.S. nuclear deal. The clerics supported the Chief Minister’s stand on the deal.

Tuesday’s meeting was preceded by the visit of noted Shia cleric and Imam-e-Juma of the historic Asafi Masjid in Lucknow Maulana Kalbe Jawwad to Ms. Mayawati’s residence. Maulana Jawwad, who is a member of the AIMPLB, thanked her for opposing the nuclear deal. Stating that the Muslims were happy with the Chief Minister’s stand, the Maulana assured Ms. Mayawati of the community’s support on the issue. He was accompanied by Mr. Mishra.

Taking strong exception to terror acts being linked to Muslims in general, the delegation urged the Bahujan Samaj Party government to ensure that innocent Muslims were not arrested and the accused should not be called a terrorist until the charges were proved.

The State government was urged to write to the Centre for setting up a Muslim or Minority Planning Commission on the lines of the Planning Commission of India. The Naib Imam of Lucknow’s Aishbagh Idgah and Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, who was a member of the delegation, said the problems of the minority community could be understood better by Muslim officials.

The other demands included payment of extra rent as per prevailing market rates for the Wakf properties acquired by the government; annual grant of Rs. 2 crore to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Wakfs; setting up of a Urdu-Arabi-Parsi university; a central university on the pattern of Aligarh Muslim University and the appointment of Muslim officials in remand homes keeping in view of the complaints of Muslim girls being married off to non-Muslims.

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