Firdausi denies opposing the laying of foundation of Haj house

Jamshedpur, Jul 14 (UNI) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) general secretary (Minority Cell) Nasar Firdausi today denied report of his opposing the laying of foundation for the proposed Haj house in Ranchi.

Talking to mediapersons here, Dr Firdausi clarified that he had only opposed the move without proper drawing and financial clearance from the Ministry of Welfare.

He claimed that he had demanded formation of Wakf Board before laying the foundation for the Haj house, but the government did not pay heed to it.

He also reacted to report terming him the ''agent of the BJP'' and said some vested interests were trying to tarnish his image and project him as ''anti-Muslim''.

Dr Firdausi said if the proposed Haj house was built in a ''proper'' way, he had no objection but he alleged that the government was trying to befool the minorities to keep the minority vote bank intact.

He also alleged that the UPA government in Jharkhand had failed to implement a single project for the Muslims during its nine-month tenure despite promises by Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto.

Dr Firdausi, also the secretary of the central committee of the party, challenged Mr Mahto, also a JMM leader, for an open debate on the government's role for the uplift of the Muslims in the state.

UNI