New Delhi, 24 February: The president of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and MP from Dhubri, Assam, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal termed the accusation of Maulana Arshad Madni, president of a fraction of Jamiat Ulama-e Hind and the archrival of Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Wastanwi in the ongoing battle for the post of Mohtamim (VC) at Darul Uloom Deoband, of rupees 55 crores bribe taking from BJP as ‘most unfortunate, shameless and a complete bunch of lie’. Maulana Ajmal called a press meet in his residence at South Avenue, New Delhi today where he also issued a lengthy press release clarifying his party’s position.
Maulana Arshad Madni accused Maulana Ajmal of ‘receiving bribe from BJP’ in crores during his Assam visit this week. It is noteworthy that in the 2009 Lok Sabha election AIUDF though won one seat in Assam but caused unexpected blow to the Indian National Congress in at least four other seats. The party stood second and third in two each seats out of total 14 Lok Sabha berths in Assam. The outcome slightly favoured BJP and regional party AGP in the final tally which the Congress has taken for negative campaign against AIUDF in the run to assembly election in the state in 2-3 months time. The diehard Congress ‘workers’ like Arshad Madni are open in the field with argument that if Muslims are going to vote for AIUDF, this time, it would help BJP and put so-called secular and masiha of Muslim— the Congress out of power.
Going by the voting trends in the 2009 Lok Sabha election AIUDF can win around 20-26 assembly seats out of 126 in the Assam legislative house— party has won 11 in its debut assembly poll in 2006. The Congress has to find ways to minimize Ajmal’s charisma before the up coming polls in Assam or to make booking in the opposition chairs. Thanks to differences between Arshad and Ajmal during Darul Uloom’s VC election which instigated Arshad Madni to go all out against Ajmal and dance with the Congress.
Maul. Ajmal said that his relation with Maulana Arshad Madni and his family is of 50 years long. He said he is utterly surprised, learning Maul. Madni’s amateurish statements against him in the press especially in some daily newspapers published from Assam. “It should be noted that it was Maulana Arshad Madni saheb who at the instance of late Maulana Syed As’ad Madni saheb had announced and upheld the formation of All Indian United Democratic Front (AIUDF) for the first time in 2005”, said Ajmal. He further said, “I have been serving Jamiat Ulama-e Assam as president even before the formation of the AIUDF and I was made president of Assam Jamiat twice even after the dispute of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind by Maul. Arshad Madni himself”. Last time Maul. Ajmal was unanimously elected by the general body to the post of president of Assam State Jamiat on 31st July 2010 in the presence of Maul. Arshad Madni.
Maul. Badruddin Ajmal said that the alleged Rs.55 crore bribe taken by him from BJP had taken place either five years ago during assembly election in 2006 or two years ago during Lok Sabha election in 2009, Maulana Arshad Madni might know exact time and place, but during these two elections Maulana Arshad Madni was among campaigners for AIUDF. Does it mean he also had enjoyed part of the bribe money from BJP, asked Ajmal. “And if I had gobbled all alone and he knew that then why on earth he remained silent so long, why did he chose me the president of his Jamiat just seven months ago,” argued Maul. Ajmal.
Maulana Ajmal demanded a public apology from Maulana Arshad Madni for his false allegation against him and his party else his party AIUDF will be compelled to take legal action, he said.
Maulana Ajmal elaborates that among the primary reasons of Maulana Arshad Madni becoming his hardcore opponent is the fact that Maul. Arshad wanted to be the Mohtamim (VC) of the famed Darul Uloom Deoband while in the larger interest of Darul Uloom and Muslims in general, the Majlis-e Shura, including himself, voted some one else. That angered Maul. Arshad Madni against Ajmal so much so that he went out to slapping ‘false allegations’, since he was expecting Ajmal’s strong support in the Shura.
Maul. Ajmal accused ‘it is actually Maulana Arshad Madni who is playing politics with both Darul Uloom and Jamiat by acting as puppet of Assam’s forest minister Raqibul Hussain and chief minister Tarun Gogoi’.
Maul. Arshad and his brother Asjad Madni had several meetings with Assam’s Congress’ top brass before and after 9 February when Assam Jamiat was disbanded by Arshad Madni. It is known from anonymous sources that Asjad Madni got a promise from Congress for a Rajya Sabha berth from Assam if ‘all gone well’ for the Congress in the up coming assembly election.
