Ulema council clarifies on split

Mumbai, Jan 30 (UNI) The All India Ulema Council, the apex body of Muslim community, today clarified that there was no split as claimed by one of its secretary Maulana Abdul Qualam Quasim, who had unilaterally extended support to a NCP candidate contesting the civic polls in the city.

In Statement here tonight, the national general secretary of the council Mulana Mehmood Baryabadi rubbished the claims and said majority of its members except Quasim were firm on their support to the Ramdas Athawale-floated third front candidates.

However, its founder secretary Quasim gave a call today to vote for the NCP, saying that Sharad Pawar's party was the only political outfit, which can resist the communal forces in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra.

Addressing a press conference here, Maulana Abdul Quasim, the founder secretary of the Council, said that they were very much impressed by the policies of Pawar and NCP.

Quasim said that he personally met members of all the political parties in Maharashtra and held detailed discussions.

In this regard, he also met noted criminal lawyer Majeed Memon, who is also the national general secretary of NCP, who proved with his arguments that NCP is the only political party which can tackle the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.

Maulani Baryabadi clarified that the appeal made by Quasim was in his personal capacity and had nothing to do with the Ulema council.

UNI