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ISI activities give Indian Muslims a bad name, says Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah feels that ISI sponsored anti-national activities cause great harm to Muslims in India.

Speaking at the Muslim parliamentarians meet in New Delhi today, he asked the Pakistan government to desist from interfering in the internal affairs of India.

The one-day meet, which was organised by five prominent Muslim personalities to deliberate on measures for seeking greater representation for Muslims in Parliament and state legislatures, was attended by over fifty present and former members of Parliament.

Dr Abdullah asked Muslim religious leaders of India to use their influence in Pakistan to stop violence in the country. They could play a major role in this regard as they have considerable pockets of influence among various sections of the people there, he said.

Among those who attended the meet were former cabinet secretary Zafar Saifullah, Prof S D Soz, Arif Beg, Rashid Masood, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, Sulaiman Sait and Abdul Rashid Kabuli.

While criticising Islamabad, Dr Abdullah said Pakistan had denied visa to Kashmiri Sikhs for pilgrimage to gurdwaras in Pakistan.

Syed Shahabuddin, in his speech, said Muslims feel neglected and insecure. They face economic deprivation and a low share of representation in private and public employment. They are often targets of suspicion and distrust.

Under the Indian democratic system the legislator represents his community, which looks up to him for redressal of grievances and realisation of aspirations, Shahabuddin said.

Prof Soz said for the past fifty years not much has been done for the upliftment of the minorities. He urged the political parties to work towards this end.

Arif Mohammed Khan said the Muslim leaders should project the community's problems without resorting to the ''emotional approach.''

Casteism and communalism pose a serious challenge to the country's unity, Khan said and cited recent attacks allegedly by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists on Christians.

Inderjit, noted journalist and former member of Parliament, pleaded for educational development of the Muslims. ''This is very essential if the community wants to achieve economic progress.''

M Afzal said secular political parties had used the community as a votebank and done nothing for their betterment.

Mumtaz Ansari demanded a ten per cent quota for Muslims in Parliament.

Kabuli favoured a common approach by the political parties towards solving the problems of the Muslim community.

UNI

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