EVEN BEFORE take off, the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), launched by prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad here today, has developed a snag. Sulking over the tearing hurry shown in its launch, Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmad Bukhari has distanced himself from the front.
Jawad while launching the front here today announced that Bukhari would be its patron. But Bukhari is unhappy over the way the meeting was conducted in Lucknow and the rush shown to announce the formation of the front.
Jawad, who was elected as chairman, directly opened a front against the ruling Samajwadi Party. So far known as a sympathiser of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Jawad said if seven per cent Yadavs could rule the state, why not 23 per cent Muslims.
He also criticised the chief minister for not doing any thing for the welfare of the Muslim community in the state. Jawad expressed concern over the government’s apathy towards Muslims in the appointments in police and PAC. “Not more than two per cent Muslims had been absorbed in the police recruitment,” Jawad said adding, how long Muslims would play a second fiddle to those less in numbers. “This slavery would no longer be tolerated,” he said.
Bukhari, however, told Hindustan Times on phone from Delhi that several modalities were to be finalized before the announcement about the front was to be made. He said several participants at the meeting expressed their reservations on various issues. But a few leaders with no base pressured Jawad to make announcement. He said NLP president Dr Masood, Parcham Party leader Ahmad Salim Peerzada, Mehboob Ahmad of Muslim Majlis Mushwarat and several others left the meeting in protest.
{{/usCountry}}Bukhari, however, told Hindustan Times on phone from Delhi that several modalities were to be finalized before the announcement about the front was to be made. He said several participants at the meeting expressed their reservations on various issues. But a few leaders with no base pressured Jawad to make announcement. He said NLP president Dr Masood, Parcham Party leader Ahmad Salim Peerzada, Mehboob Ahmad of Muslim Majlis Mushwarat and several others left the meeting in protest.
{{/usCountry}}Bukhari said formal announcement was to be made after the June 10 meeting in Delhi. Bukhari said there were sharp differences at the meeting, which was unfortunate.
He said now a fresh exercise would have to be undertaken for the front. It was because of the prevailing rift he did not come to attend the meeting in Lucknow, he said adding unnecessary hurry was shown to announce the launch. “It was a bad start,” Bukhari quipped.