With the congress leader Salman Khurshid jumping into the fray for presidentship of the centre against the present president Sirajuddin Qureshi, the battle has taken political turn too.
While Khurshid group highlighting Qureshi's relationship with the BJP, the later accuses Khurshid for using congress name in the elections. Qureshi also questions Khurshid's contribution to the centre.
The IICC elections for the post of President, Vice President, members of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee will be held on January 18 at IICC premises located at Lodhi Road here. The last election was held in 2004. IICC has 2,200 members across the country.
“Khurshid has been one of the founder members; he has not done anything for the centre. I have never seen him at the centreâ€, Querashi alleges.
Explaining his BJP connections, Qureshi says that he has 'links to all the parties'. He also admitted of receiving a delegation of religious leaders from Israel at IICC. I actually wanted to open a dialogue on the issue of atrocities on Muslims by Israel†he explained.
Qureshi, a meat exporter, recalls his initiative in building IICC 'brick by brick at a time when there was no money to complete construction'.
On the other hand Khurshid justifies his decision to enter the fray by stressing the need to raise the intellectual profile of the centre and make it a proper forum for a dialogue between cultures and faiths.
If he wins, says Khurshid, he would end the VIP culture at the IICC. “The VIP room at the centre is contrary to the Islamic and democratic ideas, and against the spirit of the centre†he said adding 'amendments would be made in the membership rules and membership fee of Rs 30,000 would be reduced to pave the way for academicians and intellectuals who cannot pay such high fees'.
Besides two candidates for the president, two are contesting for vice president, 36 for 7-member Board of Trustees and 31 are for 4-member Executive Committee.
The IICC was inaugurated by Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on June 12, 2006. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of the centre on August 24 1984. It took about 22 years for construction of the centre to complete.#
India Islamic Cultural Centre
IICC election getting murkier
Political twists and connections to the Congress and the BJP debated
Andalib Akhter - 16-01-2009 12:52 GMT-0000
New Delhi: The elections for the managing body of India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) is getting murkier as allegation and counter allegations against contestants are being widely propagated in the local media.