Ulema Council express on its way to Delhi, to protest at Jantar Mantar

Lucknow - 18 Sep 2011: A train carrying members of Azamgarh based outfit Rashtriya Ulema Council (RUC) crossed Lucknow's Charbagh station on Sunday evening. The train named Ulema Express has been hired by the RUC for ferrying its workers from Azamgarh for the protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday. The 23 bogey train has been named "Ulema Express-Azamgarh to L-18 Batla House" by the outfit.

Born after the Batla House encounter in Delhi in 2009, the RUC is protesting against the encounter challenging its validity. "Our main point of protest is to put an end to the government terrorism. An enquiry in the Batla House encounter where our boys lost their lives," said RUC chief, Maulana Amir Rashadi. The RUC also has included the issue of providing SC status to Muslim dalits by scrapping section 341 of the constitution.

"We had demanded three trains but they provided us only one. Our remaining workers are coming on various trains which run normally," said Rashadi.

The RUC which has turned into a political party, contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and its candidate polled nearly 600000 votes from Azamgarh. Though it could not win any seat, it succeeded in creating an anti-mainstream parties atmosphere among Muslims.

With assembly elections round the corner, the RUC is once again gearing up for the poll battle. Presently, its chief Maulana Rashadi ruled out possibility of tie-up with any political outfit.

"We can align with anyone but it will be under our leadership. If this is not acceptable to others, we will go alone. We will pursue our agenda and anyone accepting our agenda can come under our umbrella," he said.

source: TwoCircles.net