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archive: Sonia waits for Ali Mian to answer her 'prayers'

Sonia waits for Ali Mian to answer her 'prayers'

Sunita Aron
The Hindustan Times
July 21, 1999


    Title: Sonia waits for Ali Mian to answer her 'prayers'
    Author: Sunita Aron
    Publication: The Hindustan Times
    Date: July 21, 1999
    
    How much would Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's meeting with Maulana Abul Hasan
    Nadvi eventually help the Congress garner Muslims votes was the
    question uppermost on the minds of Congress workers as they left the
    UPCC complex here yesterday after listening to their leader's sermons
    on unity.
    
    Though the workers realised the need for unity, the return of Muslim
    votes to the party fold remained their top priority.  After all, the
    party's victory at the hustings depends largely on the support of the
    minorities.  It was, therefore, not without reason that Mrs. Gandhi
    told the maulana:  "We are looking for your prayers."  Maulana Nadvi,
    popularly known as Ali Mian, remained quiet who make a beeline for
    Nadwa before elections.
    
    Though the cryptic conversion between maulana and Mrs. Gandhi remained
    apolitical, much is being read from the 'welcome' given to her there. 
    The enthusiasm with which the students thronged around her as she
    walked up to them after the meeting is an indicator of the change in
    Muslim mood.
    
    Indeed, this is not the first time that the Congress president has met
    a Muslim cleric.  The fact, however, remains that her husband and
    former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the last Congress chief to call
    on Ali Mian.  Rajiv had met the maulana at his Delhi residence.  No
    Congress president during the past decade mustered the courage to
    visit Ali Mian at Nadwa, apparently because of the community's
    antipathy towards the party, especially after the Ayodhya imbroglio.
    
    If the minorities were expecting a clear cut message from Mrs. Sonia
    Gandhi about her party's plans for them, they were disappointed. 
    Apart from BJP bashing and pulling up of party workers for alienating
    minorities and Dalits from the party, Mrs. Gandhi remained quiet on
    her plans for their welfare.   Though the AICC chief did mention
    inclusion of a development package for UP in the Congress manifesto,
    she said little about various demands of the minorities.  This
    disturbed the leaders, especially from the minority community.  They
    were optimistic about the unveiling of a plan for the welfare of the
    minorities, especially because her address to workers are preceded by
    her visit to Nadwa.  Not only that, she was also escorted by
    'messiahs' of minorities, Mr. Arjun Singh and Mr. Rajesh Pilot.
    
    Besides this, speculation about the party's failure to enter into an
    electoral arrangement with the BSP further upset the leaders.
    
    Mrs. Gandhi's effort to bring about party unity may prove elusive. 
    Though UPCC president Salman Khursheed did his bid to placate Mr.
    Jitendra Prasad by describing him as an old-time friend, the latter
    was hardly amused.  In fact, Mr. Khursheed had some complimentary
    words for all veterans on the dais.  Whether his words helped in
    healing the wounds only time would tell.
    
    Even before she flew to Delhi, partymen were heard cribbing about the
    'coterie'.
    



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