Jamiat splits, Arshad Madani expelled as president

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) One of frontline Muslim organisations, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind today split vertically when a meeting of the ''working committee'' expelled its president Maulana Arshad Madani for anti-party activities.

A resolution to the effect was moved by General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani, who is also the nephew of Maulana Arshad Madani. The resolution was passed by a majority of 24 members out of 32 present in the meeting.

The meeting also ''unanimously'' appointed Qari Mohammad Usman, vice-rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, as the new president of the Jamiat.

Maulana Arshad Madani staged a walkout from the meeting with his supporters terming the step ''against the Jamiat constitution''.

He also in turn expelled General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani and six of his supporters, claiming he was still the president under section 66 of the Jamiat Constitution.

The elevation of Qari Usman, who is a special invitee to the working committee, to the post of President would be formally announced at the General Council meeting to be held on March 26, Mahmood Madani told a news conference.

''Arshad Madani was working against the constitution of Jamiat and was trying to divide the party by annulling organisational elections in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh,'' he charged.

Maulana Arshad Madani took over the reins of the organisation after the death of Jamiat patron Maulana Asad Madani. A power struggle was on between Arshad and Mahmood Madani ever since.

A working committee meeting had been called on February 28 to resolve the differences between the two top leaders of the Jamiat but it ended inconclusive. The very next day Arshad Madani sacked 20 special invitees to the working committee and also annulled the organisational elections in Karnataka.

UNI YA AT HT1812