That’s another point. But Buddhadebji’s attitude and the way he wants to rule . . . During Jyoti Basu’s time we never had any major conflict. Jamiat had organised a big rally for the protection of madrasas, which I had also attended. We passed a resolution against the W. Bengal Government and even Biman Basu participated in that rally.

• So did you tell Buddhadebji that the condition of Muslims was so bad in his state?

He said that Sachar has not included certain points and we are trying to incorporate those points. So he started finding faults with the Sachar Committee.

• Do you follow the Sachar Committee report or you go on your own report?

We have our own report also. And that shows our condition to be worse than what Sachar Committee report has to say.

• But why so? But CPM is secular. Then why is the condition of Muslims in Bengal so bad?

It’s very difficult to answer this question. We follow the middle path.

• But spiritually you are Deobandi?

Basically, the Deoband school of thought follows the middle path.

• But a new reputation has come up that Deobandis are extremists, they are Taliban.

This has been projected by the Taliban. This is their regional conflict.

• Do you consider the Taliban to be Deobandis.

They claim they are Deobandis. And we cannot go against their claims.

• But does the work done by them come under Deobandi ideology?

... contd.