Date:03/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/03/stories/2008070359651200.htm

National

Mayawati bid to consolidate Muslim base

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s efforts to create a dent in the Muslim support base of the Samajwadi Party (and the Congress), and to further consolidate her party’s hold on the minority community, intensified with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president meeting a delegation of leading Muslim clerics at her official residence on Wednesday.

They had come to thank Ms. Mayawati for her stand on the nuclear deal with the United States.

Muslim delegation

The delegation comprised the vice-chairman of All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and leading Shia cleric, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, the Naib Imam of Lucknow’s Aishbagh Idgah and AIMPLB member, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, the Muslim Personal Law Board member, Maulana Hamidul Hasan, the Imam of Lucknow’s historic Tilewali Masjid, Maulana Fazlur Rahman Waizi Nadwi, Maulana Aleem Farooqui and Maulana Naeemur Rahman. Another important cleric, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, who is in Iran, had a telephonic conversation with the Chief Minister.

Accuses SP, Congress

Only on Tuesday, Ms. Mayawati had stated that the United Progressive Alliance government’s decision to go ahead with the nuke deal had angered the Muslims. She accused the Samajwadi Party and the Congress of launching a tirade against her government as these parties were wary of the possibility of the Muslims shifting to the BSP.

An official press release issued by the State Information and Public Relations Department said that the religious leaders urged the Chief Minister to use her influence to prevent the “anti-national” deal.