Mulayam Singh seeks Deoband Ulema's blessings

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday visited the Islamic seminary at Deoband and sought the Ulema's blessings ahead of the elections.

Yadav met the 98-year-old head and rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Marghoobur Rahman along with other senior Ulema. He told them about the communal forces that wanted to divide the country.

The SP chief urged the clerics to pray for defeat of such forces that are acting against the interests of the country. He praised the role of Muslim clergy in the freedom movement.

He said that he felt delighted at his reception in the historic Darul Uloom. Yadav who is under fire from certain sections for taking the support of former BJP leader Kalyan Singh, said that he was committed for secularism and harmony.

Yadav told the Ulema that Mayawati had campaigned for Narendra Modi in Gujarat and after the Lok Sabha elections her party could again support the BJP. He said that Mayawati's BSP and BJP were parties were similar agenda.

However, Deoband Ulema later issued a statement saying that the institution doesn't support any political party but welcomes everybody like BJP's Vinay Katiyar who was recently invited. It further said that the institution's wishes are with every person in his legal and lawful pursuits.

TIH Bureau