A condolence meeting to pay tributes to former minister of the state and chairman of the MP State Minorities Commission (MPSMC) Ibrahim Qureshi was held on Monday at Madhya Pradesh Muslim Education Society office.
Many Congress leaders, dignitaries and intellectuals from across the State paid homage to the departed soul on the occasion. Main among those who were present on the occasion include former State Congress spokesman Arif Masood, State Congress general secretary Syed Sajid Ali - Advocate, state secretaries Syed Sajid Ali Rajiv Gandhi College, Yusuf Kadappa from Jawra and Toqeer Nizami, Asif Zaki, former Ratlam MlA Paras Saclecha, internationally acclaimed poet Manzar Bhopali, Jamiat Ulema e Hind MP president Haji Haroon, former chairman of state Congress’ minority department Mohammed Saleem, Communist Party of India state secretary Shailendra Shelly, Corporator Raeesa Malik, renowned educationist Qaisar Zaman, former mayor Deepchand Yadav, All India Muslim Tehwar Committee chairman Ausaf Shahmiri Khurram and others. Besides, Congressman from Rewa, Ratlam, Indore, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind and other parts of the state also.
Arif Masood, Syed Sajid Ali and Asif Zaki expressed angst over the state Congress leadership for not organizing the condolence meeting in the party office despite the fact that the late leader worked for the Congress all through his life. He was a minister in erstwhile Digvijay Singh government and also served as the chairman of MP State Minorities Commission for over a decade.
Masood, Zaki and Ali said, “The failure of state Congress leadership to organize condolence meeting of leader of such stature shows the indifferent attitude of party towards the community that always remain devoted towards Congress. We have also come to know that no senior leader of the party
has visited the mourning family of late Qureshi, that is also not a good tradition and we would certainly raise the issue in the party. ”
However, the MPCC chief spokesman KK Mishra when contacted said that the condolence meeting was held in the party’s state office on the very same when Qureshi breathed his last.