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Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah.
Received your letter dated 31.3.04. Since I was on tour I received your letter late. Referring to Hindustan Times and BBC you have concluded that Qasim Rasool Ilyas Saheb has presented himself in his statements as the representative of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. If he has introduced himself as the representative of the Board, it is wrong on his part. He is the convener of the committee formed by the Board to deal with the Babri Masjid issues, and not the spokesman of the Board. When we came to know that he spoke as the Board's spokesman and introduced himself in that capacity, he was warned about that.

Recently, when his attention was drawn to this, he said that he did not present himself as the Board's spokesman and that the press correspondent himself has described him as the spokesman. In any case, he has been cautioned about that and asked not to describe himself as the Board's spokesman. Other people have also been told that the Board's policy is to keep aloof from politics. Statements from my side have also appeared to this effect in newspapers like Sahara Urdu and Hindustan (Hindi) which probably escaped your attention. A photo copy of Hindustan (Hindi) is sent herewith to you for perusal.

Members of the Board include many members of various Muslim organisations. Anyone of them can make any statement but in that case they should do it either in their personal capacity or on behalf of their organisation, and not on behalf of the Board. When we come to know about any such mistake, clarification is demanded on behalf of the Board.
Your sincerely

Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi
President, AIMPLB (12 Apr 2004)«