Jamiat party heads for a split
With the tussle between president Arshad Madni and general secretary Mahmood Madni for control over Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) taking a curious turn, the country?s most prominent Muslim organization is fast heading towards a split to suit the political interest of the warring rivals.
With the tussle between president Arshad Madni and general secretary Mahmood Madni for control over Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) taking a curious turn, the country’s most prominent Muslim organization is fast heading towards a split to suit the political interest of the warring rivals.
After being elected to the Rajya Sabha on Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ticket in alliance with Samajwadi Party, Mahmood Madni, son of late patriarch Maulana Asad Madni, has been desperately trying to wean away the organization from the influence of the Congress. Arshad Madni is known for his soft corner for the Congress. Sources said with Mahmood’s support, JUH Ulema (clerics) had been campaigning against the Congress in Assam Assembly election.
Thus the battle between Ulema (clerics) of JUH has political overtones. Arshad Madni, brother of late Asad Madni was elected last month as the JUH president. Mahmood was nominated as general secretary. However, Mahmood ---now challenging the validity of the election of his uncle (Arshad) ---has summoned general body meeting on April 6 to hold fresh poll. The process for the new president’s election would be over by April 10, Mahmood told Hindustan Times on phone on Saturday.
The JUH apart from being playing prominent role in the freedom movement along with the Congress, had been closely associated with the party after Independence. While Arshad Madni wanted to carry the JUH age-old pro-Congress stance, his nephew has rebelled. Claiming that his election as the president was valid Arshad Madni said Mahmood had withdrawn from the fray paving way for unanimous election. However, Mahmood said there were some constitutional improprieties in the election and JUH members had now demanded fresh election.
Sources said while Arshad Madni had support of senior clerics in the country, general members in JUH were with the junior Madni.
Arshad Madni said efforts were made to sort out the issue but to no avail. Mahmood Madni, however, said he had been trying to “uphold democratic values” of the organization. Mahmood said he had withdrawn his name but there was opposition to the name of Arshad Madni. Known as party-hopper Mahmood had been in Congress and Samajwadi Party before settling down in RLD in 2004 and now getting elected to Rajya Sabha on March 28. “The tussle is unfortunate” commented Naib Imam Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rashid.
He said the image of JUH had been sullied because of infighting in the Madni family. The “cartoon bounty fame” minister for minorities welfare Haji Yaqoob Quereshi too joined the battle on behalf of Arshad Madni.