Muslims leaders unite to discuss socio-eco state of community

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

About 300 Muslim leaders, attending the All India Muslim Representative Conference, today resolved to work together for the economic independence and eradication of illiteracy and poverty among the nearly 160 million Muslims of India.

''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 so that they can make a positive contribution in nation building,''Shahi Imam Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari said in his inaugural address.

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.

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

Alleging that during the last 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.'' More UNI AR RA BS1845