Shahi Imam asks for support to UDF

Bilasipara (Asom), Apr 6: Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid Syed Ahmad Shahi BUkhari said here today successive Congress governments are responsible for the hardships that the people of Asom were facing.

In Asom, on a two-day campaign tour, the Shahi Imam urging the people to support Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) said it is time that people should uproot the Congress regime.

''The Congress has been exploiting people for long and now it must be discharged to ensure all round development of the state,'' he said.

The Shahi Imam also addressed a rally, yesterday in South Saumara, the constituency from where AUDF President Maulana Badruddin Ajmal is contesting in the April 10 elections.

Both these constituencies have a predominantly Muslim population and are backward. The Shahi Imam has also campaigned for the party, which follows the ideology of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Ulema-e-Hind. Party candidate from Bilasipara West, Hafiz Badhir Ahmad Qasmi, is also the state Jamiat chief.

The Imam also targeted Muslim leaders, specially of the Congress and urged the gathering to choose leaders who will be their ''eyes and ears'' and could feel their plight.

In a short speech, he also criticised Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in the state and held it responsible for the backwardness of both the state and the Muslim community here.

Muslims, comprising 90,000 of the total about 1,30,000 voters play a decisive role in this constituency. Like most of the lower Asom areas, negligible development has taken place in this area.

UNI