With friends like these do Muslims need enemies? CPI (M) communalising N-deal issue!

Islam and Politics

24 Jun 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com

With friends like these do Muslims need enemies? CPI (M) communalising N-deal issue!

N-deal support may cost Muslim votes: CPM warns SP  June 23, 2008   New Delhi, June 23: Amid reports that Samajwadi Party would consider supporting the nuclear deal, the CPI(M) on Monday subtly cautioned SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav that his party might lose the support of Muslims if it decides to go with the UPA on the issue.   CPI(M) Politburo member M K Pandhe asked Yadav to 'think twice' before deciding to support the nuclear deal as overwhelming number of Muslims, his party's perceived votebank, were against the agreement.   He said the SP chief, who enjoys a good relationship with the Left parties, will have to give a lot of explanation if he decides to support the deal, one which he has opposed earlier.   "Mulayam will have to think twice before supporting the deal as an overwhelming majority of Muslims are not in favour of the deal. Mulayam's support is much more among Muslim masses," he told reporters in New Delhi.   He was responding to a question about speculation that the Uttar Pradesh-based party was cosying up to Congress to support the deal, which was strongly opposed by the Left.   Noting that such reports were 'no doubt' a serious development, Pandhe said, "He will have to explain it to people how suddenly he has become a supporter of the deal. He has been very strongly opposing the deal."   The role of the 39-member strong party in Lok Sabha could be crucial in a trial of strength if Left allies withdraw support to the deal.   Mulayam said in Lucknow that a decision on supporting the deal would be taken only after consulting leaders of UNPA allies.   NewAgeIslam.Com condemns this blatant communalisation of the nuclear deal issue and cautions Muslims to be wary of such "friends" who are bent upon giving secularism a bad name and create disaffection between Muslims and the majority community to serve their own political purpose. Muslims should refuse to be treated as a mere votebank. These people should be told in no uncertain terms that n-deal is not a communal issue and Muslims are as much befuddled and divided over it as is the rest of India.