Muslims told to take part in poll process

LUCKNOW: Muslims should participate "wholeheartedly" in the electoral process and support best candidates, said Islamic scholar and chief rector of the Darul Uloom Theological School, Lucknow, Maulana Rabey Hasan Nadwi today. "Muslims will suffer if they remain aloof from the political system," Nadwi said. Urging Muslims to introspect and fathom the "deeper malaise troubling the community," Maulana said he did not wish to stir any political controversy on the issue of the Muzaffarnagar riots because he was an apolitical person."But I feel time has come for Muslims to realise that Islam is a humane religion and they should search their hearts to know why they have suffered," he said. He regretted Muslims have fallen prey to social ills like extravagance in personal habits and lavish spending on social occasions such as weddings.
Ajit lashes out at rivals: Criticising BJP, BSP and SP, RLD chief Ajit Singh said they failed to maintain law and order, communal harmony and development in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing his first rally after announcement of poll dates in Jat-dominated Narangpur village in Amroha district on Sunday, Singh termed the Muzaffarnagar violence a political conspiracy, and said violence in urban areas is easy to control, but not in rural areas. He criticised the SP for poor law and order and said it was well maintained during the rule of his father and former CM Chaudhary Charan Singh. Referring to the achievements of UPA government, the RLD chief said OBC reservation in Central government jobs for Jats was a historical achievement.
Akhilesh hoardings disappear: Soon after the general elections were announced, hundreds of billboards promoting chief minister Akhilesh Yadav put up across the length and breadth of Uttar Pradesh were dismantled in a tearing hurry. All of them carried the beaming face of the 41-year-old chief minister and details of all the good work his government has supposedly done. They have now disappeared from all the 75 districts. "The idea is to allow a level playing field to all political parties and to ensure that the ruling party does not get undue advantage," said an Election Commission official. There were 2,010 such hoardings across the state about welfare schemes and development schemes initiated by the two-year-old government. Lakhs of rupees was spent on buying prime space for these hoardings.
Minister gets EC notice: The Election Commission has issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh Minister Vinod Kumar Singh for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct. The Samajwadi Party's LS candidate from Kaiserganj seat, Singh alias Pandit Singh allegedly visited a party meeting in Maraucha area on March 7 using an official vehicle. District magistrate Rakesh Kumar, who is also the district election officer, issued notice to Singh for visiting the party meeting in a red beacon light fitted vehicle, which is not permitted. He has been given a week's time to respond to the notice.