It is almost a month that Barelvi Cleric and President, Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) Tauqeer Raza Khan was appointed vice-chairman, State Handloom Corporation, giving him the status of Minister of State.
But he is yet to take charge because he wants an assurance from the state government that it would order a probe into communal riots that rocked the state in last year and a half.The demand has put the state government in a quandary. Because, the state government has tried to buy peace by offering Rs lal batti’ to the Maulana. The other intention was to lure the Maulana so that IMC enters into an alliance with Samajwadi party. The move seems to have cropper.
"The dialogue over alliance with Samajwadi party is in the final stages. But decision will be taken after Mulayam Singh accepts the demand of setting up an inquiry in nearly 50 riots that occurred after SP led government came into power in the state," Raza told The Pioneer here recently. The Cleric was appointed as Vice-Chairman of the state-run corporation on May 27 but has not taken the charge. He wants to meet Samajwadi Party Mulayam Singh Yadav and get the assurance from him that the probe will be conduct.
Clerics who leads IMC, was negotiating with SP for alliance. So far it was decided that IMC candidates will contest parliamentary elections on SP symbol. Name of Ayesha Islam, wife of lone IMC MlA, Shahzil Islam, has already been announced by SP as its candidate from Bareilly, lok Sabha constituency. But the IMC is yet to take that call.
"I was asked to give a list of my candidates so that they can be accommodate in SP’s list of candidates for Parliamentry elections. But as of now it was a secondary thing, primarily I want to make consensus over roits inquiry," said Raza.He shared that if SP government accepts my demand, not only I will accept the post but also I will ensure that the alliance takes a final shape and it contests the next 2014 election as a new political force.
When asked why Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) was opposing his appointment, Raza said: "BJP people are not worried over my appointment instead they are afraid of the investigation I have demanded as it will bring the truth to the fore."
The cleric blamed the BJP behind the riots that rocked the state in the recent past.