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Defiant Haji Yaqoob dares Mulayam

Defiant Haji Yaqoob dares Mulayam

Author: Biswajeet Banerjee
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: February 23, 2006

For Uttar Pradesh Haj and Minority Welfare Development Minister Haji Yaqoob Qureshi, defiance is the keyword when it comes to defending his shocking announcement in the name of religious faith.

Be it the Union Government's advise to exercise restraint or the displeasure of Samwajwadi Party bosses, Haji Qureshi is unfazed about his announcement last Friday of rewarding Rs 51 crores to any one beheading the Danish cartoonists who caricatured Prophet Mohammad. "I can collect this amount in just two hours," he boasted.

The defiant Haji asked politicians not to "play politics in religious matters." He even dared Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to sack him. "Mind you, if I am forced to resign many people will follow suit," he claimed.

In the process of defending himself, the Minister did not mind ruffling the feathers of party heavyweights. "Yes, I know Amar Singh has criticised me and my remark. But who is Amar Singh? Is he my leader?" he said.

"Mulayam Singhji is my leader. He has made me Minister. If he asks for my resignation I will tender it. But mind you, many more people will resign with me," he said. "Dikkat ho jayegi sarkar ke liye," (It will create problems for the government), he told `The Pioneer' on telephone from Meerut.Haji Qureshi had won the Assembly election from Khakhonda constituency in Meerut on a BSP ticket. He made headlines in August 2003 when he deserted the BSP along with 12 other legislators and formed a separate political group.

Later, the group merged with the Samajwadi Party. As a reward, the Chief Minister made him a Minister.Ever eager to remain in the eye of a storm, he challenged the powerful Muslim lobby in the Samajwadi Party headed by Cabinet-rank minister Azam Khan and questioned as to why the Minister interfered in Haj matters.


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