Common platform mooted for Muslims to discuss socio-eco progress

New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) After several decades, top Muslim leaders of the country today gathered on one platform to address the socio-economic and educational issues confronting the community.

About 300 Muslim leaders from all over the country, including the president of the Jamait Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Arshad Madni, vice president Jamait Islami Shafi Moonis, Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat of the Hurriyat conference, attended the All India Muslim Representative Conference which resolved to work together for the economic independence and eradication of illiteracy and poverty among the nearly 160 million Muslims of India.

A proposal to establish a common platform by the name of Majlise Ittehad was mooted at the conference by Shahi Imam Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari.

''I have a proposal to establish a common platform by the name of Majlise Ittehad which may be represented by all organisations that may adopt solid and positive stand on Muslim issues,''Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari said in his inaugural address at the conference.

Also present at the conference were Samajwadi party general secretary Amar Singh and Congress leader Mukul Wasnik.

''We want to be a part of the political mainstream so that the benefits of social and economic policies can be reaped by the Muslims enabling them to make a positive contribution in nation uilding,'' the Shahi Imam said .

In his address, the Muslim leader expressed confidence that the conference would prove to be a milestone in safeguarding Muslim unity and identity.

While commending the Muslims in the country on coming forward unitedly against the blasphemy of the Prophet in a cartoon in a Danish publication, he lamented that there was no Muslim leadership in India or a common platform for the community due to friction among Muslim leaders.

Stressing on the need for the Muslims to come together on a common platform, he said,''now it is inevitable to make a combined course of action on Muslim issues.'' All small and big Muslim organisations should establish such a common forum that may think considerably on Muslim issues and unanimously resolve a programme may be beneficial to the Muslims as well as the country,'' he said.

'The reason of my stress on a common platform is due to the constant tyranny, usurpation and injustice to which the Indian Muslims have reached an explosive point,''the Muslim leader said.

Alleging that during the past 55 years, countless Muslims had died in more than 25000 riots, he said,''Muslims are still suffering from the mental torture of horrible riots spread over Jabalpur, Bhiwandi, Bhagalpur, Ahmedabad, Surat, Hashimpura, Malyana, Meerut and Moradabad.'' Eds :Pls pick up suitably from earlier series).

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