DNA
 
Mumbai, May 15: Even as the Tada court prepares to pronounce the sentences of those convicted in the ‘93 blasts case, those accused in the case have decided to float a political party called the Dalit Muslim United Front. Mustafa ‘Majnu’ Dossa, an accused, whose case will be tried separately, has been declared party president. He is currently lodged in the Arthur Road Jail.

Haji Gulam Rasool Ehtesham, who has been held guilty by the Tada court, is the ad-hoc secretary. The court is yet to announce the quantum of his punishment. And the party vice-president is Salim Shah, who is also an accused in the case.

The party will primarily consist of those accused in the bomb blasts case. However, Mustafa Dossa’s advocate Parvez Alam, the main objective of the party is to fight for people who have been victims of state oppression and state terrorism. “Our party will fight for people who have been victims and targets of state and its establishments,” Alam said.

A majority of the party workers will be those who are accused in the bomb blast case. “Even those who have been acquitted have promised to be a part of the party,” Alam said.

Alam also said that during the just-concluded state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, their party workers had distributed more than two lakh pamphlets urging people to support Mayawati. “The fact that Mayawati has been elected, has led us to believe that people heard our plea,” said Alam.

The final decision to float the party was taken at Arthur Road Jail on Monday evening. “We will first set up our office and gather our team members and then we will approach the election commission to formally register our party,” said Alam, adding that the party is also in dialogue with several Dalit leaders who have been to jail in the past.

The party also plans to meet Mayawati. “There are a few people in UP who wish to be a part of our party and are also close to Mayawati,” said Alam.

The party’s immediate plan is to contest the local elections in Mira Road.