RJD Shifts Gear to Win Back Muslim Vote Bank
Patna: April 7, 2007
 At a 'maha dharna' sponsored by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Aqliyat Committee in Patna on Saturday, the committee president Mohammed Nemtullah described the Nitish-led NDA government in Bihar as anti-Muslim that was out to crush Muslim leaders in Bihar.
"It is clear that the Nitish government is anti-Muslim as is apparent from the mistreatment of jailed Siwan MP Mohammed Shahabuddin. The government has withdrawn all facilities provided to the Siwan MP despite his special status and his deteriorating health conditions," Nemtullah said.
He further said that the Nitish government was also planning to bar any person with more than two children from contesting the local body elections.
"If something bad happened to Shahabuddin, the entire 1.5 crore Muslims of Bihar will come out on the street," Nemtullah said in what sounded like a veiled threat of widespread communal violence in the state.
The leaders also demanded reservation for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions and swore to launch a nationwide movement to enforce recommendations made in the Sachar Committee.
RJD president Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Ghulam Gaus, Mohammed Iliyas Hussain, Shakeel Ahmed Khan also addressed the rally.
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