Dipawali Mitra & AgenciesKolkata/New Delhi: The three minority MPs from Murshidabad now with Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), who have refused to be a part of BJP or NDA bloc, will meet PM Narendra Modi over breakfast on Friday.On Thursday, Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan met Union home minister Amit Shah, who heard their concerns over faster resolution of cases in SIR tribunals and removal of loudspeakers from mosques. The three MPs have till now stayed away from the two NDA meetings (Mangal Milan). The other 17 NCPI MPs, alongside six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs who are supporting NDA, would also meet the PM.Khan, Rahaman and Pathan submitted a letter to Shah. “We have highlighted that police authorities are directing mosques to remove microphones/loudspeakers. While fully respecting the law and Supreme Court’s directions on noise regulations, we have requested that appropriate instructions be issued to ensure fair, uniform and sensitive implementation without hurting religious sentiments, because Hindus and Muslims have co-existed peacefully for decades,” Khan told TOI on the phone.Their letter also highlighted the large number of genuine voters whose names have been deleted from electoral rolls and are awaiting tribunal decisions. “This delay is causing difficulties in passport verification, land registration and access to govt welfare schemes. We requested the ministry to fast-track all pending genuine cases and complete them by the end of this year, establish additional tribunal benches and ensure affected genuine citizens are not denied essential public services,” Khan, the Murshidabad MP, said.Jangipur MP Rahaman told reporters in Delhi: “We met the Union home minister to discuss certain issues concerning Murshidabad district and Bengal. He listened to us and assured that he would look into the matter.”Pathan, the Behrampore MP, asked if they would attend the meeting with Modi, told reporters: “We in NCPI are all together. We will do whatever is best for the country. We were informed, and there was a phone call as well. So, we will definitely attend. When an invitation comes, especially from PM Narendra Modi or home minister Amit Shah, one should certainly attend. It is a matter of pride. We stand with NCPI, and we will support whatever is beneficial for the nation.”MPs Satabdi Roy and Asit Mal were also present when Shah met the three Murshidabad MPs. Roy said: “The meeting with the Union home minister was convened to discuss issues of the respective constituencies. We (NCPI MPs), along with other MPs who are supporting NDA, have been called for a meeting with the PM over breakfast. Those NCPI MPs who are in Delhi will attend it.”Speaking to reporters, veteran Trinamool MP and Mamata Banerjee loyalist Sougata Ray said: “One cannot remain in NCPI while simultaneously opposing anti-Muslim measures. They cannot have it both ways. They cannot keep a foot in two boats at once. If they align with NCPI, they will effectively have to accept BJP’s communal agenda. This needs to be made clear.”“The PM will certainly hold the meeting. He wouldn’t want the strength of NCPI, an NDA ally, to decrease. But what will they do? It is a matter of principle. They cannot do both things simultaneously,” he added.On Pathan’s “national interest first” statement, Ray said: “There are 543 MPs in India; it is not as if only these three individuals are concerned about national interest. You are either with BJP or against it. You cannot try to do everything at once.”
