Confused prevails in the state Congress over its stand on retaining Muslim votebank and also maintaining a `secular’ image and various wings are seemingly working at cross purposes.
After the UP Congress Committee cancelled the ‘Roza iftar’ party taking cue from the Delhi, the Minority Cell of UPPCC has decided to host a lavish Roza Iftar at a star hotel in lucknow on the coming Sunday.
To woo the Muslims and avert disciplinary action from the party brass, the state unit played safe by sending out invites in the name of `Minority Cell’ of the UPCC. This however did not go down well with some senior leaders who voiced their protest asking the UPCC brass to follow the AICC.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, Chairman of UPCC Media Committee Satyadeo Tripathi had confirmed t hat the proposed Roza iftar part schgeduled on July 1 had been cancelled.
Only few days later, Vice-chairman of UPCC Media Cell, Virendra Madan informed that the Minority Cell of the state will be hosting a grand Roza Iftar party at a prominent hotel of lucknow on coming Sunday.
He also claimed that senior leaders from AICC like Gulam Nabi Azad, MP Pl Punia, state president Nirmal Khatri, former chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi and other senior leaders would attend the party.
A senior leader reacted, ``When the AICC has decided not to host a Roza Iftar party this year, then why did the UPCC allow its Minority Cell to organise the event that too at a plush hitel.”
“Such double standards of the UPCC, especially at atime when the party faced the worst rout in UP due to mass polarisation of vote bank in the lok Sabha elections would certainly harm its prospects.
“Instead of organising Roza Iftar party, state leaders should abide by AICC’s directions and visit madrasas and other areas and distribute sweets and eatables to the poor and needy,” he advised.