The four most eminent Muslim organisations in the country held a meeting at the residence of Prof. Saifuddin Soz on 4 June, 1999, and after prolonged discussions on the current political situation, issued the following statement:

"At the initiative of Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Maulana Mohd. Sirajul Hasan, Amir, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi, S.G. of the A.I. Milli Council, S. Shahabuddin, V.P., All India Muslim Majlis-e- Mushawarat, Maulana Shafi Moonis, GS, A.I. Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat and Mr. Abdur Rahim Qureshi, Secretary, A.I. Muslim Personal Law Board attended the meeting to discuss the role of the Muslim community in the present political context. Others who attended the meeting included Maulana Ejaz Ahmad Aslam, Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Mr. Kamal Farooqui of the All India Milli Council.

The Muslim leaders came to the unanimous conclusion that the emergence of the ideology of Hindutva, as the major contestant for power was a grave threat to democracy and secularism and for the survival of the secular order. The Muslim community has to play a effective role in the coming elections keeping in view not only their own interest but the larger interest of the country, in general and the Backward Classes and the weaker sections, in particular.

They decided to undertake a joint campaign for the mobilisation of the Muslim masses for participation in the democratic process through enrollment of all eligible voters, to be followed by massive voting in the election as well as to evolve a joint strategy for the coming elections.

They also decided to formulate an Agenda which would cover the legitimate aspirations of the social groups for peaceful co-existence, empowerment and participation of all sections of society, including Backward Classes, the SC, the ST and the minorities for social and economic justice.

They further decided to take steps to arrest the moral decline int he Indian society and eliminate corruption, criminalisation and communalism from the public life. They also decided jointly discuss the Agenda with all the secular parties in order to maximise their area of agreement and to cmphasize the need for all an alliance of all secular forces in order not divide the secular votes and thus to arrest and contain the chauvinist upsurge. Prof. Soz has been authorised to hold further joint meetings of these organisations.

Maulana Asad Madni, President of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema Hind was also invited to the meeting but he could not join the meeting as he was out of town. He is expected to attend future meetings.