Muslims have role on assembly seats in UP, vote en-masse-Shia cleric

Lucknow: In first of appeals made by Muslim clerics in the wake of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections, noted Shia cleric and General Secretary of Mazlis Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi has appealed to the community to must cast their votes for betterment of their condition while making it clear that the community is not aligned to any political party.

"There are about 40 assembly seats In Uttar Pradesh where muslims can play decisive role hence the use of franchise is must for them," he said in a general appeal issued on Saturday adding "our strength lie in the votes which should be used prudently to make political political parties aware of the importance of the minority existence."

Maulana Jawad lamented that the Muslims have no political status in the eyes of political parties and that is why the rights to Shias are being denied by political regimes over a period of time. "We should vote in large numbers to make parties realize of our collective strength and that can only be done through mass voting," he pointed out.

Reiterating the every member of minority community should vote in the coming assembly elections in UP, the Shia cleric said that the number of muslims was no less than the sikhs, jats or other minority community but the they community has always been given a raw deal. ''It will not happen any more if the muslims cast their vote cent per cent," he exhorted.

Refraining from announcing support to any particular political party in Uttar Pradesh, Maulana Kalbe Jawad said the muslims would vote for any those who promise better deal to them. "The en-block voting is the key and every muslim realise this and must vote to show their might in the political arena," he further added.

It is noteworthy that muslims in Uttar Pradesh contribute about 19 per cent of the total voters in the state ,out of which Shias comprised of about 6 per cent. As Maulana mentioned, out of 403 assembly seats in UP, the muslims have decisive role on about 40 seats.