CM: Cong always does appeasement politics

DEHRADUN: Reports of Congress leadership having agreed to set up a Muslim university in the state if elected to power have sparked a controversy, with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami accusing the Congress of playing appeasement politics.

The Congress, however, denied any commitment on Muslim university and accused the BJP of trying to polarise the assembly election.

Dhami told the media here that the Congress has always done appeasement politics.

“In their last government, the appeasement was visible, when they announced holiday for Friday prayers. Now, when they are talking of Char Dham during election… For them Char Dham means setting up of Muslim university in Uttarakhand…they are compromising for just votes…People are Uttarakhand are devotees of Lord Ram and nationalist people. They fully understand the game of Congress…,” he said.

The controversy followed a statement by Congress general secretary Aqeel Ahmed, who after withdrawing his nomination from Sahaspur seat in Dehradun, said he had put up some conditions before the party leadership for withdrawing the nomination, including setting up of a Muslim university, which it has agreed to.

He has also been told by the party leadership that he will be made party state vice president within a day or two.

Aqeel had told the local media that his demands included setting up a Muslim university in the state for the education of the Muslim youth and he spoke about the same to Harish Rawat, who told him he will do so after the Congress comes to power.

BJP shared Ahmed’s video on its Facebook page stating, “Those who didn’t allow setting up of Sanskrit University in Devprayag have now promised of setting up a Muslim University in the state to make a particular community happy. Will Dev Bhumi be able to forgive such people.”

When Ahmed’s statement stirred a controversy, he made a U-turn saying he had put his demand of setting up of Muslim university among other demands, but Harish Rawat didn’t say he will set up the university after he comes to power.

“Uttarakhand has 18% Musim population. What wrong did I say by asking for setting up of a Muslim university in the state? I didn’t talk to Harish Rawat, but Mohan Prakash… I told him about these demands… he told me that I am a senior leader of the party… I should withdraw my nominations.”

Uttarakhand has 13.9 % Muslim population according to 2011 census, mostly in Terai area, including Haridwar and US Nagar districts that have over 34 % and 22 % Muslim population, respectively.

Congress state general secretary Mathura Dutt Joishi said the party leadership has not agreed to any such demand.

“The BJP is trying to rake up this controversy to polarise the election for electoral advantage. Our leadership hasn’t agreed to any such thing. Aqeel Ahmed had just raised this demand before the party leaders. Nothing beyond that happened,” he said.

THE CONGRESS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ACCUSED THE BJP OF TRYING TO POLARISE THE ASSEMBLY POLLS