Kanpur: Observing that Muslims in the country have got nothing from the various political parties they have been supporting, Shahi Imam Abdullah Bukhari today (Dec 12, 2004) said there was a need for a separate political party for the community.

The people of Hindu community besides backward class, schedule caste and weaker section of society could be taken in the new political party, Abdullah Bukhari told reporters in Kanpur.

He said the Muslim community has so far been supporting the various political parties who were claiming themselves as secular political parties but they had not given anything to the Muslims.

"There was a need for a separate political party who could safeguard the interest of Muslims," he said.

On the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya, Maulana Bukhari said, that since the case was pending in court he would not comment anything but it was "unfortunate" that the Seer was arrested on the eve of Deepavali. His arrest could averted for some time, he added.

Bukhari said the Shankaracharya could also be taken to a separate place because he was not getting facilities in judicial custody.

However, he rejected the idea of having separate laws for religious heads in the country, saying there was democracy in the country and it would not be good to have separate laws for any particular people.

He also turned down the demand of a new Muslim Personal Law Board and said it was not required.

Abdullah Bukhari was in Kanpur to attend a marriage function.