NEW DELHI: A cautious P.Y.Narasimha Rao refrained from making any fresh commitments on the Babri Masjid issue and on implementing the Supreme Court direction that Imams’ salary should be drawn from WAQF Board while addressing 5,000 Imams at Nizamuddin on Oct.27.

Speaking at the convention organized by All India Organization of Imams of Mosques, the Prime Minister, however, hastily, assured his audience that he stood by his “previous Commitments” and that his party would honor them under all circumstances.

He said no commitments will be made since those might jeopardize the chances of Congress candidates contesting Assembly pollsirom Rajasthan, UP, MP, HP and Delhi.

Making a pointed reference to BJP, he criticized parties which used religion as a tool io gain power and said the practice had to be brought to an end at all costs.

“Certain political parues had taken the support of religion to brighten their chances in the polls, this threatened to divide Indian society on communal lines,” Rao said.

While his government had failed to bring about a legislation separating religion from politics, it will strive to enact it at all costs, Rao promised.

His party was committed to protect every religious monument in the country which existed before 1947, the PM said without issue directly, only a passing reference was made to Babri Masjid.

He assured the Imams that the Government was committed to secure a better livelihood for each citizen, including Imams. This program had been part of Con

Rao urged Imams to strive towards achieving amity and communal harmony at all costs. “You are the guiding lights of your community and you have a vital role to play,” he said.

Earlier, the Imams presented PM with a special robe. They also submitted to him a charter of demands which included reconstituting the WAQF Board and streamlining the appointments made to it.

Other main demands were granting possession of mosques currently with the Archaeological Survey of India

Prominent among those present were the chairman of the Dargah of Aimer Sharif the Mufti of Kanpur Mohammed Ahmed Shahidi, Mase committee chairman Maulana Fagir-ud-din and the convener of the Kamataka committee of Imams Mohammed Ali Qazi

Every time animated to get up and ask 2 question, 2 security personnel among the crowd would prevent him from doing so, many an Imam wanted to have a say on the dais, But Rao who trooped in nearly three hours ahead of schedule amidst heavy security arrangements and spoiled their plans.

 

The chairman of the All India Organization of Imams, Maulana Jameel Ahmed Ilyasi, Imam of the mosque at Curzon Road round about, was midway into his presidential address when Rao came.

“It is good that those who seek and those who give have gathered on the same platform,” Ilyasi said and left the dais urging Rao not to go back on the old promises, ends.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 5, 1993