Mamata created Hindu-Muslim divide, did more harm than good to Muslims: Abbas Siddiqui

Pirza Abbas Siddiqui, he of Muslim shrine Furfura Sharif, who has muddied political waters of West Bengal with launch of Indian Secular Front (ISF), feels Mamata Banerjee government has done more harm than good to Muslims by creating a Hindu-Muslim divide. 34-year-old cleric is trying to forge an alliance with Congress-CPI(M) combine as also AIMIM of Hyderab MP Asuddin Owaisi ahe of assembly polls, after TMC gave him cold shoulder.

Siqqiqui asserts his newly floated political outfit will prove to be 'Kingmaker' in state which roughly has 30 per cent Muslim voters.He also rejects as baseless accusation that he has decided to jump into electoral arena to cut into TMC's Muslim vote base, assiduously nurtured by Banerjee over last ten years, and has hesitation calling ruling party "Communal and vindictive".

"In last 10 years, TMC government has only fooled Muslims and Dalits. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has done thing for m. She has only created a perception that this government is doing a lot for Muslim community only to serve her political interests," he said in an interview with PTI.

Siddiqui said perception of "Muslim appeasement" has led to a rift between Hindus and Muslims.

" BJP worked overtime to exploit it and rub it in that Muslims are getting everything and cost of Hindus.Mamata Banerjee has done more harm than good to Muslims by creating this perception," he said.

Talking about alliances his outfit wants to forge ahe of assembly elections likely in April-May, Siddiqui said prospects of a tie-up with TMC are quite "slim".

We h proposed a Grand Alliance of all parties, including TMC, to fight BJP. But our proposal did t elicit any response from TMC. So w chances are very slim,he said.Siddiqui alleged that after his anuncement about contesting elections, state government has started harassing ISF supporters by implicating m in false cases.

"y ( TMC) will get a befitting reply for ir arrogance," he asserted.

He, however, feels chances for forging alliances with Congress-Left combine and AIMIM are bright.Siddiqui said doors of his organisation are open to all barring TMC and BJP.

We are also in talks with AIMIM. Owaisi Saab told me y will follow us as we kw Bengal better, Siddiqui, who is fondly called Bhaijaan (elder bror) by his followers, said.After AIMIM's impressive showing in recent assembly polls in Bihar, where its candidates won five seats of Seemanchal region, Owaisi has declared his prty will also contest West Bengal assembly polls. He has visited West Bengal quite a few times and also held parleys with Siqqiqui.After meeting Siddiqui earlier this month, Owaisi h said AIMIM and ISF will work toger in state.

"We will work behind him and support whatever decision he takes," Owaisi h said.

Abbas Siddiqui rejected suggestions that his outfit will be a B-Team of BJP, an accusation also levelled by Mamata Banerjee against Owaisi's party.

We are t here only to seek Muslim votes but also backward community votes. H TMC worked for mirities, re wouldn't have been a need for us to enter fray. Everybody has right to fight elections in a democracy, Siddiqui said.Owaisi was accused of having acted like a B-Team of BJP after NDA mand a wafer-thin victory over RJD-led Grand Alliance in Bihar. Muslims and backwards form bedrock of RJD's support base, and a split in mirity votes was seen as a reason for opposition alliance's defeat.

Siddiqui, first prominent religious figure to enter electoral politics in West Bengal, said body wants Muslims to assume a leership role.

It's because I am a Muslim you are raising this question of splitting votes. You won't have asked this question h a Hindu come up with a new political outfit, he said.

Though Siddiqui remained n-committal about number of seats his outfit will contest, he asserted,Whatever number, we will emerge as kingmaker after polls. He also accused Banerjee of paving way for rise of BJP in state and w playing "victim card".

"Mamata Banerjee aligned with BJP in 1998. She was in alliance with BJP till 2006 and was also a union minister. She was first leer to rake up issue of illegal infiltration from Banglesh in 2005. BJP is doing it w. This shows true colours of people questioning our credibility," he said.

When asked to comment on incident when 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan was raised at Victoria Memorial during birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Siddiqui said Mamata Banerjee should have igred it.

"By reacting way she did, Mamata Banerjee only vertised slogan. It all seemed std by her," he said.

He also accused TMC of trying to "fool" mirity community with its vociferous opposition to CAA and NRC.

"y ( TMC) just want to project mselves as saviour of Muslims," he said.

Comprising around 30 per cent of state's population, Muslims are widely believed to influence election outcome in 100-110 of state's 294 assembly seats, and have acted as a bulwark for Banerjee's party against any attempt to upset her applecart.

However, re are apprehensions that a split in Muslim votes due to presence of parties led by leers from community could dent her bid for a third straight term in office.