Kolkata: The Jamaat-e-Islami today (Feb 19, 2004) said it wanted realignment of "secular" forces including the Congress, Leftists, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

National president of Jammat Abdul Haque Ansari told a press conference in Kolkata that the country was standing at the crossroads. "On the one hand, strong communal and fascist forces are at work, while on the other there are scattered secular parties.

"The BJP that his heading the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government, is leaving no stone unturned to capture power again. If it succeeds in its venture, the very face of the country will change," the Jammat president apprehended.

"The Jamaat is very much concerned about this situation and considers the Lok Sabha election 2004 to be very important and decisive.

"At this turning point, the Jamaat will support only those candidates who have faith and pledge to protect the democratic ideal and non-communal character of the country and uphold religious freedom," he said.

"The Jamaat would want that the future Government at the Centre to take up these issues with all minorities, particularly the Muslim community, and its institutions."

The Jamaat leader who was not ready to disclose his preference for any particular party said, "We want to see the BJP-led NDA ousted and realignment of secular parties.

"No single party should get absolute majority and the secular alliance should work in a cohesive manner," he said, meaning that the Congress should not get an upper hand.