MUMBAI, Aug, 12: The Maharashtra Minorities Front today demanded that a memorial to Muslim freedom fighters be set up in the four metropolitan cities of the country.

The demand was part of a resolution passed at the end of a day long seminar to mark the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence. The debate centred around the role played by Muslims in winning freedom for the country and that played by them now in nation-building activities half a century later.

The demand for the memorial was part of a suggestion by noted Gandhian Usha Mehta who said India could never have gained Independence without Muslim support.

While former Union Minister C K Jaffer Sharief called upon Muslims to once again gird their loins and make sacrifices for the country, former Maharashtra minister Dr Rafiq Zakaria regretted that the self-serving politics of Mohammed Ali Jinnah had led to a situation whereby a strong nation had been reduced to three weak entities and all three were still paying for the sins of partition.

The seminar was presided over by noted educationist Ishaq Jamkhanwala. Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Chhagan Bhujbal was also present.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.