Muslim delegation urges SEC to finish polls before Ramzan

Kolkata:Close on the heels of the Trinamul Congress calling for the completion of the panchayat elections before Ramzan, a delegation of Muslim organisations echoed the same demand to the West Bengal state election commissioner Amarendra Kumar Singh on Wednesday even as the rural polls’ fate hangs in balance with fresh schedule yet to be decided.

One of the delegates also threatened to move the court if the polls are held during the Ramzan.

In the morning, Trinamul Congress MLA from Nalhati in Birbhum Moinuddin Shams visited the state poll panel’s office and submitted a memorandum appealing for the rural polls before the Ramzan. He later said, “Ramzan is a holy month for the Muslims. The members of the minority community will face trouble if the polls are scheduled during this month.”

Mr Shams added that the West Bengal state election commission should make it clear that the polls would be held before the Ramzan.

Later, Imam of Nakhoda Mosque Maulana Shafique Qasmi led a delegation of various Muslim bodies.

He said, “We met the state election commissioner and appealed to him to make it sure that the polls are not scheduled during the Ramzan. We also requested him that the polls be over before the Ramzan.

He listened to us before saying that he would try his best to not to schedule the new dates during the Ramzan. Our talks were held in a very cordial manner.” Meanwhile, the meeting between the state poll panel and the state government did not take place during the day.