NEW DELHI, Dec 17 � Assam Congress Party�s minority leaders are up in arms over All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), bid to make an entry into the UPA II Government by cozying up with AICC leaders.
The Congress Party in Assam and AIUDF are heading for a face off, with a section of the minority leadership including MLAs cautioning AICC against including Badruddin Ajmal into the central ministry.
�We are aghast to see that there is an invisible plan to placate the AIUDF with an aim to win back Muslim votes. This would have two disastrous consequences. The move would drive away Hindu votes back to the fold of the AGP and BJP combine, besides angering the Muslim Congress members, who had the support of at least 45 per cent of the populace. They have suffered a lot of humiliation and insult at the hand of AIUDF supporters,� the petition signed by 13 senior Muslim leaders said.
A delegation led by general secretary of APCC, Wazed Ali Choudhury on Friday met political adviser to Congress president, Ahmed Patel and are now trying to meet Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.
Urging the party high command to adopt a clean and a clear policy vis-a-vis AIUDF, the Minority leaders were of the opinion that it would not be possible to win back Muslim voters by wooing AIUDF.
Pleading with the party high command not to succumb to the wily move of some of our party leaders, the petition said that any favourable gestures towards the AIUDF would help the minority party to consolidate their vote bank and would cause erosion in Congress minority vote bank.
The Minority leaders also reminded the party high command that gross injustice perpetuated on the minorities in the name of �D� voters and updating of NRC has alienated the Muslims. As a result, AIUDF, a party baying for Congress blood, got upper hand and Muslims out of anger and frustration voted for AIUDF. Even then, Congress got 45 per cent votes in minority segments, they pointed out.
The Minority leaders were alarmed by reports of Ajmal�s growing influence in AICC. An AICC leader admitting the development, said that Ajmal, who has considerable pocket of influence in UP has dangled the bait of campaigning for the Congress in the ensuing Assembly polls. This has alarmed Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi's camp and, therefore, a pressure is being built up on AICC not to fall for Ajmal's design.
