LAUNCHING THE UP United Democratic Front (UPUDF), Delhi Jama Masjid Imam Ahmad Bukhari today assailed Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for using the Muslim community as a vote bank. He said the Samajwadi Party had long been exploiting the Muslims and had not undertaken any welfare measures for the community in the State.
The UDF also announced its State executive with Mohd Yusuf Qureshi as the president.
Addressing the first conference of the UDF here on Wednesday, Bukhari also held the chief minister responsible for communal riots in Mau and Aligarh. Bukhari said the community distanced itself from the Congress after the demolition of Babri Masjid and aligned with Yadav. But now the community was moving away from the SP also.
Bukhari said the formation of the UDF had caused ripples in political circles in the State. The Imam said the community had launched its own political front after testing all parties in the State. He said while the Yadav community had been given the lion’s share in recent police recruitment, there was no proper representation for the Muslim community.
Bukhari also questioned the secularism of Yadav and said his association with “Babri Mosque wrecker” Sakshi Maharaj had long exposed the hollowness of his claim on the issue. He also assailed the Congress for misleading the Muslims. He said the SP and the Congress could no longer befool the community. Claiming that the community had lost faith in the SP, Bukhari said people were looking up to the UDF with hope. He said instead of being exploited as a vote bank, the community now wanted a share in power. He said the community did not want any support and would tackle issues independently.
{{/usCountry}}Bukhari also questioned the secularism of Yadav and said his association with “Babri Mosque wrecker” Sakshi Maharaj had long exposed the hollowness of his claim on the issue. He also assailed the Congress for misleading the Muslims. He said the SP and the Congress could no longer befool the community. Claiming that the community had lost faith in the SP, Bukhari said people were looking up to the UDF with hope. He said instead of being exploited as a vote bank, the community now wanted a share in power. He said the community did not want any support and would tackle issues independently.
{{/usCountry}}Laying stress on unity, he called upon all Muslim sects to join hands. He said the community sustained political parties so far, but would now chalk out its political course in the state. Former union minister CM Ibrahim, Parcham Party chief Salim Peerzada, president Jamiat Quraish and others also addressed the gathering.
Bukhari said the front was open to all castes and communities.
The UDF office-bearers are Mahboob Ahmad (chairman parliamentary board), Prof Khan Mohd Atif, Chaudhury Zia Islam, Khalid Sabir, Mohd Ayub Khan Naimi, Mufti Mohd Sami (all vice- chairmen), Salim Ahmad Peerzada (secretary general and spokesman), Wasi Ahmad, Syed Askari (both general secretaries), Salim Ahmad Babri, Sarwar Ali and Zafar Iqbal (all secretaries).