VIJAYAWADA: Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu asserted on Wednesday that his party will never work against the interests of the Muslim community. “We will stand by the Muslim community on the issue of Uniform Civil Code,” he promised a meeting of Muslim leaders here.
“I shall study the suggestions from the Muslim community on the UCC and stand by you. The TD will always give priority to the welfare and development of the Muslim community and will adhere to the Muslim religious beliefs,” Naidu said.
Naidu interacted with Muslim religious leaders from different parts of the state, as also leaders of the Minority Rights Protection Committee and minority leaders of the party at the TD central office, to learn in detail about their objections and views on the proposed UCC.
The leaders explained to Naidu that they felt “only the Muslim community is being harmed by the central government’s steps like UCC.”
Muslim elders and representatives asked Naidu not to support such legislation that “hindered” their religious freedom. In response, Naidu said, "TD will respect the opinions of the minority community regarding the proposed bill.”
He added, “I will be with Muslims in all ways. It is enshrined in the Holy Quran that Muslim men must give one-third of the share of their property to their women.”
Naidu said, “There is a need for Muslims to excel more in politics. The Muslim community should come into politics and frame public policies. There is the need to eradicate poverty in the Muslim community.”
Representatives of the Ahle Sunnat Jamaat, Mashaikh Board, Jamiat e Ulema e Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Jamiat Ahle Hadith organizations, president of the Minority Rights Protection Samiti Farooq Shubli, former TD minister NMD Farooq, former chairman of the legislative council Ahmed Sharif, former MLAs Jalil Khan, Chand Basha, Shahjahan Basha, TD National spokesperson Naseer Ahmed, state spokesperson Mohammad Rafi and other leaders participated in the meeting convened by Naidu.
