Firangi Mahal supports CM

WHILE THE UP United Democratic Front (UPUDF) of Delhi Jama Masjid Imam Ahmad Bukhari has been making determined efforts to make a dent into the Samajwadi Party?s Muslim vote bank, prominent Firangi Mahal today came out in support of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

WHILE THE UP United Democratic Front (UPUDF) of Delhi Jama Masjid Imam Ahmad Bukhari has been making determined efforts to make a dent into the Samajwadi Party’s Muslim vote bank, prominent Firangi Mahal today came out in support of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

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A delegation of prominent Muslims led by Naib Imam Eidgah Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahli today reposed trust in the leadership of chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Firangi Mahal has considerable influence over the Muslim community in the state. Yadav assured Rasheed of his full cooperation.

During an hour-long meeting, the delegation also asked the chief minister to put pressure on the Congress-led UPA government for snapping of diplomatic relations with Israel.

The SP has already demanded freezing of ties with Israel for its attack on Lebanon. Rasheed, who is also a member of All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said that the state government should take an initiative in this connection.

Recently, the chief minister had called on AIMPLB chairman Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi to apprise him of the measures taken for the welfare of the community. The SP has already launched a massive drive to keep the prominent Muslims in good humour.

Last week People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman and Shia leader Maulana Kalbe Jawad had also met the chief minister with eight-point demands. The chief minister has accepted the long-pending demand of Jawad about appointment of a new chief executive officer of Shia Waqf Board. The government today appointed information officer Syed Zaheer Abbas Naqvi, a relative of Jawad, as CEO, waqf board.

In a memorandum Rasheed asked the chief minister for proper representation to Muslims in government jobs, inclusion of those madarsas on the government aided list which had already completed formalities, removal of encroachment from waqf properties, inclusion of Urdu as compulsory subject up to eighth standard, solution to the problems of chiken, garment and meat industry which involved large skilled and unskilled population. He also asked for withdrawal of criminal cases during the recent communal riots in Lucknow.

Rasheed said Victoria Street in Old Lucknow should be renamed as “Firangi Mahal” street. The chief minister said the government was committed to the welfare of the community and its problems would be solved on priority basis.