Mulayam meets Muslim clerics to woo community

Deoband (UP), Mar 4 (ANI): As political parties gear up for the battle of the ballot in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had a meeting with Muslim clerics on Wednesday to woo the community.

Addressing media persons after the meeting, Mulayam said he has explained thr party's point to the clerics.

"We have discussed a little about Kalyan Singh with Maulana Marghoob-Ur Rahman). We have put forward our points with him and he was satisfied with our stand," said Yadav.

Yadav visited the Darul Uloom Deoband, one of the most reputed Islamic centers of the country, which occupies an important place among Muslims, in an attempt to seek the community's support for the forthcoming general elections.

The Samajwadi Party, which is the main opposition party in Uttar Pradesh, depends heavily on Muslim votes.

But close ties with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, who recently joined the SP, has reportedly angered Muslims. Many sections of the community hold Singh responsible for the demolition of the Babri Mosque in the year 1992.

Political stakes are high in the state, which is ruled by the Bahujan Samaj Party, that sends the maximum MPs to the Lok Sabha of Parliament.

The general election will be held between April 16 and May 13, in which 714 million people will be entitled to cast their votes. (ANI)