BeyondHeadlines News Desk
In an unprecedented development for India’s largest minority, the two factions of the apex body of Indian Muslims, the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM), merged together after a 13-year-long separation.
The decision to merge was announced in a joint press conference at the Mushawarat central office in Delhi. Split in 2000, the organization’s one faction was headed by Syed Shahabuddin while the other by Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi.
AIMMM’s current president is Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, and Maulana Salim Qasmi is the chairman of its Supreme Guidance Council.
Dr Khan hailed the merger as “a great event in the life of the Muslim community since Independence”. He said that the AIMMM was established fifty years ago while Muslims faced a grim situation and numerous challenges. The community is facing similar challenges at the time of merger.
“Hence, this unity and merger of the two factions of the largest organization is a gift of Allah and it provides us with an opportunity to fight for our rights and face the challenges in a more concerted way,” Dr Khan added.
While calling a day of merger as an extraordinary day, Maulana Qasmi said: “We yearned for unity for years and we knew that both sides felt its need.”
He expressed hope this organization will function in a way planned by the founders. He added that it’s the responsibility of the new generation to carry forward the burden.
Calling it a great achievement, Mr. Shahabuddin recognized efforts made particularly by Maulana Qasmi, Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasmi and Maulana Ataur Rahman Qasmi.
He announced that AIMMM would celebrate golden jubilee next year.
In the Declaration of Merger, the two factions stated: “After a lot of deliberations, leaders of both the Mushawarats decided to merge the two groups into one because unity and agreement are the sources of power and divine blessing and because through unity alone Mushawarat can regain its past glory.
“Therefore, the two groups of Mushawarat have decided to unite and they pray to Allah the Almighty to safeguard this platform of the Millat so that it may selflessly serve the Millat and the nation, and succeed in its original aim and mission.”
Noted personalities of AIMMM are: Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi, Syed Shahabuddin, Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasmi, Maulana Junaid Ahmad Banarsi, Kamal Faruqi, Dr Anwarul Islam, Hafiz Muhammad Asim Qasmi, Mufti Ataur Rahman Qasmi, Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, Muhammad Jaafar, Maulan Aqeelul Gharavi, Hafiz Rashid Chowdhary , Ahmad Rasheed Shervani, Ejaz Ahmad Aslam, Muhammad Sulaiman and Dr Arshi Khan.
