RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov.8: The voters’ list prepared for Anjuman Islamia election has come under the scanner of district administration after state minister Hafizul Hassan knocked the door of the deputy commissioner pointing out irregularities in its publication.
Hassan alleged that the name of 1845 voters appears in the voter list, suggesting that the election committee is under the influence of someone who added many names from those organisations running in remote areas of the district and are fake and left out many such names from those organisations running in the city and are active.
Pointing out irregularities, Hassan has asked the DC to stop the election.
President of Anjuman Islamia, Ibrar Ahmed, supported minister Hassan saying even his name does not appear in the voter list.
“In my opinion, the Waqf Board should conduct the election. It will be in the interest of free and fair elections. The allegation of Hassan is not wrong. Even my name does not appear in the voter list,” Ahmed said.
Election convenor of Anjuman Islamia Dr Syed Iqbal, however, underplayed the allegation.
“There were some typographical errors. It has been removed,” Dr Iqbal said.
Ranchi Anjuman Islamia triennial election is likely to be stormy this year as the number of voters has so far risen to 1845 while it was only 900 last time.
Apart from this, political parties have also started taking interest in it realizing its influence among the Muslim community across the state and regular increase in its asset during the past six years. The parties have decided to field their candidates.
This time candidates from rural areas will also contest for the one post of president, one post of vice president, and one post of general secretary besides 12 posts of executive committee members.
An insider said: “Assets of Anjuman Islamia are regularly increasing. Anjuman Hospital and Maulana Azad College, which were not part of Anjuman Islamia, have become its part during the tenure of Ahmed. Apart from this, its income has also increased. Thus those who earlier did not take interest in its election have become active. All will play their role this time.’
DC Chhavi Ranjan could not be available for his comment on the matter.
Anjuman Islamia was established on August 15, 1917 by Maulana Azad, to run Madara Islamia in Upper Bazar after Azad reached Ranchi in April 1916. It is a central organisation of Muslims.
