The Hindu : Muslim group to back Vajpayee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004

National

National - Elections 2004

Muslim group to back Vajpayee

Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI

With the onset of the election season, it is time for new parties, political outfits and support groups to sprout. And sure enough, there is a new organisation on the scene: the `Atal Bihari Vajpayee Himayat Committee.'

As the name suggests, it wants to see the Prime Minister, Mr. Vajpayee, return to power, heading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition.

Floated three weeks ago by Muslim academicians, ulemas and intellectuals to mobilise support for the Prime Minister, most of the Committee members are not even members of Mr. Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but give full marks to the Prime Minister for successfully running the NDA coalition government for the past six years.

Addressing a press conference here, Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed, Convenor of the `Atal Bihari Vajpayee Himayat Committee', said that in the present political scenario no other political party or front was in a position to come to power and Mr. Vajpayee had proved himself to be a non-controversial leader and able administrator.

Asked if the Committee would prove to be a temporary outfit, he said that it would work as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) and its existence would remain intact beyond elections. He said the group would apprise Muslim electors of the performance of the Vajpayee government and bring forth their feelings and demands to the notice of the government. The process would continue even after the Lok Sabha polls, he said.

Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed said the Vajpayee Government had dispelled doubts and misgivings among Muslims about the ruling coalition; its actions on the ground showed that all minority institutions - educational, social and religious - worked with full autonomy and independence. He said the group would hold countrywide meetings and rallies to muster support for Mr. Vajpayee.

The stress will be on three Es - Educational development, Economic upliftment and Empowerment - for Muslims. Mr. Ahmed said that these concerns were reflected in the BJP's ``Vision Document'' as well. However, he was grilled on some of the crucial issues like Gujarat riots, development agenda for Muslims, secular credentials of the BJP and the Committee's stand on Babri Masjid issue.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National