October 28, 2002

Indian Muslim Council-USA, a Washington based advocacy group working toward safeguarding Indian society’s pluralist and tolerant ethos expressed its profound grief today on the death of Senator Paul Wellstone.

Mr. Paul Wellstone, a Senator from the state of Minnesota, died in a plane crash on October 25, 2002.

“We are all shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Senator Wellstone,” said Dr. Shaik Ubaid, President of IMC-USA. “He was a great Senator and family man, who never hesitated to speak for the oppressed and always put his conscience ahead of politics. The entire Indian Muslim community in the USA joins me in mourning the death of Senator Wellstone. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Senator Wellstone and those who were along with him on the plane.”

Dr. Ubaid also noted that Senator Paul Wellstone had taken a keen interest in the plight of the Muslims of India, including sponsoring a resolution in the US Senate that condemned the killings of Muslims in that country. “The oppressed minorities of the world have always looked towards Senator Wellstone as their voice in the US. The Muslims of India and IMC were fortunate to have been associated with this great gentleman.”