Muslim bodies gear up to take on SP govt over Faizabad riots

The Akhilesh Yadav government is likely to face the heat of Muslim organisations over recent communal riots at Faizabad. Already several Muslim organisations have visited the riot-affected area and approached the president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Rabey Hasan Nadwi for raising the issue in an effective manner.

The Samajwadi Party government is already on the backfoot after its Maharashra unit president and MLA Abu Asim Azmi vented his ire against the government stating that Muslims are not safe under SP rule. Even the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari, who had supported the SP during the Assembly elections, has asked Muslims to reconsider their decision during Lok Sabha elections.

After the violence subsided in Faizabad, several Muslim organisations visited Faizabad and even the Muslims of the area arrived in Lucknow to meet Muslim clerics. Blaming the Akhilesh government, a joint front is being planned to corner the Chief Minister over the issue.

"I had visited Faizabad and adjoining areas, including Bhadarsa, which were affected by violence. We have some demands which will be raised before the CM Akhilesh Yadav," Arshad Madani, the chief of Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Hind stated. Madani was accompanied by at least 40 clerics and Muslim leaders who visited the area. He also stated that the demands mainly include a high level enquiry of the violence, adequate compensation to the victims and also stopping the arrest of innocents. The clerics also stated that victims who have suffered loss of several lakhs of rupees are being given meagre Rs 30000.

"I will personally meet Akhilesh and place my demands. Muslims have suffered a lot in these violence. Further, he should also take stern measures to prevent recurrance of such incidents," Madani stated.

On the other hand, several persons from Faizabad met Nadwi . "Muslims are being selectively targeted in the SP regime. We need safety and security. Our loss should also be compensated and the guilty be punished," said Abdul Saleem, a resident of Faizabad, who had met Nadwi.

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