Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari has announced his support for the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha election. Calling BSP and SP unreliable, he asked Muslims to vote for the ruling party.
In a press conference, the Imam said that nation faces danger from communal forces and that the Muslim community should ensure secular votes remain undivided.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) has expressed its displeasure on the announcement. Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said Imam's meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the announcement of support proves that the Imam is acting as a front for Congress Party. He hoped that EC will take note of this and act accordingly.
A few days earlier, a Muslim delegation headed by Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari had met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
His spokesperson had said Sonia promised to improve the conditions of Muslims if the UPA came to power.
"The delegation put forward Muslims issue before UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. We apprised her about the atrocities faced by Muslim youths in the name of terrorism. She agreed that Muslim youths were subjected to injustice. She wants that the secular votes remain undivided. She said we should get united against communal forces,"Rahat Mehmood Chowdhary, Spokesperson, Shahi Imam, had said.
"We have demanded reservation for Muslims in government jobs, communal riots bill should be passed, and Rangnath Commission recommendation should be enforced," he had added.
Bharatiya Janata Party PM nominee Narendra Modi had on Thursday lashed out at Congress president Sonia Gandhi for meeting Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari in her bid to seek minority votes and trying to communalise elections.
Modi had urged the Election Commission to take suo motu cognisance against Gandhi for appealing for votes on religious lines and trying to polarise elections.
Addressing a rally at Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, the Gujarat Chief Minister had said, "Seeking votes on basis of religion is against the laws of this nation. I urge the EC to take suo motu action against the Congress president."
Shahi Imam Bukhari exhorts Muslims to vote for Congress : Highlights, News - India Today
My Take: I am really embarrassed to call myself an Indian today. It's really pathetic that in 21st Century Youngistan, Parties instead of urging voters to vote on there performance, urge them to vote on caste, creed, religious lines.......It's really disgusting to see that all the sins of a party that was in power for last 10 years are simply washed away on the pretext that they are so called SICKular party while who vote the other party are communal.
Sorry Imam sahab call me a communal I don't mind.........
I am Not SICK.....Hindi me bolu toh nhi hai mujhey bukhar......
Abki Baar Modi Sarkar...........................