“We (Muslims) respect this country and are not against the national anthem. Muslims in the country are not opposed to reciting the national anthem but are against Vandemataram,’’ board vice-president Moulana Syed Ghulam Hussain Raza Aga Qibla told reporters.
“When there is a national anthem which is being recited and respected, what is the need for another song? In Andhra Pradesh, there is a proposal to introduce `Maa Telugu Talliki’ in schools. What is the need for such things?’’ he questioned.
Raza said the Shia Personal Law Board’s annual meeting held in Delhi on October 25 passed several resolutions for the social and economic development of the Shia community. ``The non-representation of Shias, whose population is five crore, in the Union cabinet is of great concern to us. The prime minister should think of including a Shia in the Cabinet,’’ a resolution said.
To ensure representation of Shias in Parliament and State Assemblies, the Shias should be given reservation as Dalits and women were being given, the resolution said.
On the issue of giving `talaq’ (divorce) by women, the conclave passed a model `nikahnama’ which would be sent for approval by the religious leaders of the community.
On terrorism, the conclave passed a resolution stating that those who were killing innocent people in the name of Islam were the biggest enemies of the religion.
Raza said the Centre should immediately restore the subsidy to those going on a pilgrimage to Iran and Iraq. A Wakf Protection Commission should also be constituted to safeguard the Shia Wakf properties from corrupt Mutawallis, he added.
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