IICC aims to promote mutual understanding and amity amongst people while depicting the true face of Islam as most tolerant, liberal, progressive, and rational. The Centre stands on a government allotted land on Lodhi Road. Elections to the governing body of IICC are held every five years.The organisation has more than 4,000 members from all walks of life but only about 2,000 were eligible to vote in the recent elections.Meanwhile, RSS-backed Talikoti’s entry into the elections of the IICC was seen by many as an attempt by the right-wing to intervene in the affairs of the Muslim body.Talikoti was backed by meat exporter and four-time president of the IICC, Sirajuddin Qureshi. Qureshi had also contested the election for the position of the Board of Trustees (BoT) as a candidate of Talikoti’s panel. Qureshi is also a member of the BJP.According to a senior member of the IICC, Qureshi gave the baton to Talikoti as he has crossed the age limit for contesting the elections. As per Memorandum of Articles (MOA) of IICC, no one can hold a position after 75 years.“Qureshi Saab who could not contest for the post of the president given his age decided to throw his weight behind Talikoti,” he said.He also said that there was a feeling among the members that Qureshi wanted to continue to control affairs through Talikoti.”This feeling led to en masse voting in support of Khurshid,” the member who is also a senior bureaucrat said.
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