Shias being targeted, clerics to tell Mulayam

Shia clerics will meet Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav at his Delhi residence next week and tell him that members of their community were being targeted, a spokesman said on Saturday.

The delegation comprising clerics from all across the country will also discuss with Yadav issues related to minority communities.

At a meeting held at the residence of Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad late on Friday, it was decided that if the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister does not act on their complain, they would stage a sit-in at Yadav's residence.

"If required, we will court arrest in a sustained manner in Lucknow thereafter," the spokesman said.

Jawwad pointed out that on July 27, authorities in Lucknow clamped prohibitory orders

at Shahi Masjid, and beat up women, elderly and children when they were going to offer prayers.

He said the administration was acting at the behest of some powerful people in the government and those who were involved in grabbing Waqf land.