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PDF keeps 25 pc seats for women

THE PEOPLE?S Democratic Front (PDF) has decided to reserve 25 per cent of the 147 seats it will contest in the forthcoming polls for women candidates. PDF chairman Maulana Kalbe Jawad said PDF was committed to the right of women to contest elections.

Published on: Jun 25, 2006, 24:08:00 IST
None | By , Kanpur
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THE PEOPLE’S Democratic Front (PDF) has decided to reserve 25 per cent of the 147 seats it will contest in the forthcoming polls for women candidates.

HT Image
HT Image

PDF chairman Maulana Kalbe Jawad said PDF was committed to the right of women to contest elections.

He said this while referring to ‘fatwas’ (edicts) normally issued against women for their political ambitions.

Talking to newsmen ahead of PDF’s maiden rally here, Jawad, who was accompanied several other clerics, said the decision to field women was not unilateral.

He expressed his concern over the growing sense of insecurity among Muslims. “ Muslims have been weakened politically in a planned way. There is only one Muslim IPS heading a district in the State,” he said.

He also criticized Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for neglecting Urdu.
He said Urdu should be taught at the primary level and children shall be encouraged to take up the language.

He also took pot shots at the government over police atrocities, fake encounters, custody killings and said PDF’s foremost job would be to check human right violations. “It will also ensure accountability of officials,” he said.

The PDF, he said, intended to end the exploitation of religion for political ends.

On PDF’s differences with the United Democratic Front (UDF), Jawad said talks were under way with Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari. Hitherto the talks were encouraging and one could expect good results, he added.

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