Congress leader Salman Khurshid wins IICC Presidential post

By S. A. H. Rizvi
New Delhi, Bureau Chief
The Times Kuwait

Recently in what is seen as a keenly contested election of the Indian Islamic Cultural Centre, former Union Minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid won the Presidential election but not before debutant M. Asif Habib made a bold statement that he has come to stay by emerging as a runner up.

Salman Khurshid won handsomely while Asif Habib who entered the poll for the first time stood second. His panel won three of the seats one in the Board of Trustees and two in the Executive Committee.

Salman panel won seven and former IICC President Sirajuddin Qureshi won the lone seat in the Board of Trustees while his whole panel lost.

Asif Habib a local entrepreneur who has business stakes in healthcare, construction, international trade and oil emerged on the IICC political horizon just seven months ago when he joined and opposed the extension of age amendment from stipulated 75 year and helped defeat the motion.

While Sirajuddin Qureshi had to lay down his office as per the court order, he decided to contest the poll along with his panel fielding noted oncologist surgeon Majid Talikoti who is convenor of Rashtriya Muslim Manch, a wing of the Sangh Parivar for the President post. But to his credit, he did not and at no place pitched the election as a NDA candidate.

However, as the polling date approached the election, many say Salman camp strongly pitched the election as a contest between INDIA and NDA. This wave was somehow strongly opposed by Asif Habib and other panels in the fray. The fact that Asif Habib stood second in the presidential poll and whose panel won three seat and lost two by a margin of couple of votes raises hope that political coup d etat of the IICC would be resisted.

Retired IPS Officer Qamar Ahmad won his fourth election consecutively and by a grand margin clearly reflect the faith and trust he enjoys amongst the ICC member across the board. All candidates in the panel of Abrar Ahmad which Qamar Ahmad represented lost.

The election was conducted by the Court Observe Justice (Retd) Talwant Singh who ensured free and fair poll. Every moment of the election was video graphed. Out of the approximately 4000 members over 2000 were only eligible to vote while other were barred from polling due to nonpayment of dues as directed by the Delhi High Court.

Ironically Salman Khurshid too will not be able to complete his five years tenure as he completes his 75 years, about 20 months before. The crisis looms large as exactly this happened with Sirajuddin Qureshi that led to the flurry of judicial activities, Asif Habib says his panel members and his organisation Ek Koshish would offer constructive support to the IICC President Salman Khurshid but would take a call if any attempt to amend the Centre constitution is set in motion.

“We will closely monitor the development but will surely fight and resist any misadventure that may take shape in the future on age factor or laying new condition through Special General Body Meeting. Not only us, but majority of members would also oppose such a move,” Asif Habib added. “We have our strategy in place.”