Author: Manoj Anand
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: April 15, 2005
Fed up with the "ill-treatment"
meted out by the ruling Congress, the minority organisations of Assam
have decided to rally behind the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, which is giving
a serious thought to the idea of floating a new political platform
before the Assembly elections in Assam.
Disclosing this to this newspaper
on Friday, senior Jamiat leaders said that the United Minority Front,
the Markazi Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the All-Assam Minority Students
Union have extended their support to the president of the Jamiat
Ulema-e-Hind, Mr Asad Madani, for his remark against chief minister
Tarun Gogoi at a public meeting recently in Guwahati.
All these minority organisations
have not only justified the remarks of Mr Madani against Mr Gogoi,
but also expressed their willingness to join hands with Jamiat in
its fight for the rights of minorities in the state. "In view of
the increasing pressure of minority organisations, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
is seriously exploring the possibility of floating a new political
platform before the Assembly elections," said senior Jamiat leader
on the condition of anonymity as the state administration was keeping
a close watch on their activities.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind national president
Asad Madani has set a deadline of six months for the ruling Congress
government to fulfil their commitment given to minority people of
the state.
The minority leaders are also upset
over the way the Assam chief minister is trying to marginalise the
importance of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind by projecting some of his loyal
MLAs and ministers as the representatives of minority in the state.
The powerful Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
had supported the Congress in the last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections
in the state. Relations between Mr Gogoi and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
started deteriorating immediately after the rally in which Mr Madani
came down heavily on the ruling party and charged him of ignoring
the minorities.
