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Musharraf asked in India Don’t become spokesman of
Indian Muslims
Vivek Shukla
New Delhi—The top Muslim leaders in India slammed the ex- President
of Pakistan Parvez Musharraf for his remark during the India Today
conclave here on Saturday that “the minorities, specially the
Muslims, are discriminated in India”.
Maulana Mehmood Madani, a member of the upper house of the
parliament and chief of influential Jamat-e-Ulema-i-Hind, made it
clear to Mr Musharraf that Muslims in India are capable of
addressing their issues. Hence, they hardly need his advice. Madani,
who was present when the former Pakistan president said that Muslims
in India are alienated and suggested that this is major reasons for
terrorism here.
Talking to this correspondent on Monday, Maulana Madni said that
India’s 90 per cent population always support them (Muslims) in
order to solve their genuine issues. In these circumstances, it is
wrong to say that Muslims face tough time in India.
Reacting to the comment of Musharraf, Maulana Umer Ilyasi, President
of the Imam Association of India, said that he (Musharraf) should
not try to become the spokesman of Indian Muslims. They have made
long strides in all the fields during the last couple of years. “He
should be very judicious in his conclave speech. He had no business
to make such an irresponsible statement. It is better for him that
he concentrates on the affairs of his country. Even if we have some
grouses against the system, he has no business to discuss on our
behalf,” Umer Ilaysi concludes.
Equally agitated by the remarks of Musharraf, an ex- Indian
Administrative Service officer of Maharastra cadre, Zafar Iqbal was
of the view that rather than looking at the grey areas, he could
discuss on the achievements of Indian Muslims. |
