Cong brings out booklet to impress Muslims

Lucknow, Apr 12 (UNI) The Minority Cell of the AICC has released a 12-page booklet on why Muslims are with the party.

The booklet in Hindi has photographs of former Presidents Dr Zakir Hussain, Fakruddin Ali Ahmed and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the cover.

The booklet gives out several reasons as to why Muslims had been with Congress ever since its formation 121 years ago.

Authored by Imran Kidwai, the document credits Mahatma Gandhi for ''not only linking Muslims with Congress, but also linking Congress with Muslims.'' It claims that Mahatma Gandhi knew that till the time Muslims did not join Congress, the Britons could not be defeated.

''As Muslims stood by Congress after Independence, the party was able to take on people who wanted the minorities to switch over to Pakistan after Partition,'' it reads.

The booklets claims that due to the open atmosphere created by the party, Muslims have been able to lead the country in several spheres citing examples of Azim Prem Ji, Dilip Kumar alias Yusuf Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Irfan Pathan, Sania Mirza and others.

To a poser during a press conference here, Union minister and convenor of AICC media management Kapil Sibal said the photographs of former presidents did not constitute a violation of the model code of conduct in force for the ongoing assembly elections in the state.

UNI