The All India Shia Personal law Board (AISPlB) spokesperson Maulana Yasoob Abbas has refused to meet Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi alleging that the Shia community was ignored by Congress Party during their rule at the Centre.
“It was conveyed by the Congress Party that Rahul Gandhi would like to meet the members of AISPlB during his visit to lucknow on Friday. But when the Congress Party has done nothing for the Shia community while they were in power, why should we meet him,” said the cleric while talking on the sidelines of AISPlB Executive Committee meeting on Thursday.
In year 2005, a delegation led by Former AISPlB President late Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar met Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leader Ahmed Patel. In the meeting, the problems of Shia Muslim community were presented.
“Not just in year 2005, several time AISPlB members met Congress leaders while the party was in power at centre. Several demands related to development and political participation was kept forth. What they gave us in return was just assurances,” he alleged.
In the Executive Committee meeting, a resolution was passed that in all the four States where Assembly elections are scheduled in the coming months, the political parties should give place to the rights of shia community in the manifestos.
The Cleric demanded that just like Sacchar Committee was formed for assessing the economic, education and social condition of the Muslims, a separate commission should be formed for similar kind of assessment of shia community too. The Shias are minority within the minorities and needs attention of the Governments.
The community does not have such a voter population in any constituency to influence the election results due to which lesser political parties field Shia candidates on their tickets. A number of nominated members to the parliament of the community should be fixed to ensure our political participation,” said Maulana Yasoob Abbas.