Saturday, April 2 2005 18:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Strongly deprecating Ramvilas Paswan's insistence on a Muslim becoming Chief Minister if a non-RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and non-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Government is installed in Bihar, the RJD today (Apr 2, 2005) asked Muslim organisations to snub the LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) leader as his utterances were 'detrimental' to the interests of the minority community.

''The Muslim organisations should snub Paswan for his insistence on a Muslim heading a non-RJD and non-BJP Government as his utterances are detrimental to the interests of the minority community. Paswan's statements are causing the Muslim more harm than good,'' RJD national spokesman and former Bihar Minister Shivanand Tiwari told a news conference.

Saying that the Dalit leader's action would 'isolate and alienate' the Muslims from society, Tiwari pointed out, ''With utmost sincerity I advise Paswan, an old friend of mine, not to create a situation where the minority community becomes an easy target for the communal forces.''

Maintaining that the majority Hindus and Muslims had viewed each other with 'suspicion for a long time', the RJD leader attributed Paswan's preference for a Muslim Chief Minister to his 'pricking of conscience'.

''The LJP fielded 23 Muslim candidates in Assembly elections but none of them won. This has pricked his conscience and so the talk of a Muslim Chief Minister as he wants to be seen as the champion of the cause of the minority community,'' Tiwari added.