The Hindu : New Delhi News : No fatwa this election: Shahi Imam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

No fatwa this election: Shahi Imam

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 13 . Known for issuing religious decrees on the eve of almost every election, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's historic Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmad Bukhari, has this time round decided not to issue any "fatwa" asking Muslims to vote for any particular political party.

"No fatwa will be issued in this election," the Shahi Imam said today. Expressing his disillusionment with the present political leadership, he said his experience was that issuance of any religious decree by him against any political party was always exploited by certain vested interests, particularly by the so-called secular leaders. "This time I would urge my community members to vote for candidates who have a clean image and can protect our interests."

At the same time, the Shahi Imam added: "After being in power, the BJP leaders have realised that they cannot rule the country smoothly by ignoring the Muslims. There have been crucial changes in the stance of senior BJP leaders including the Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani."

Conceding that there had been a softening in the stand of Muslims towards the BJP in the recent past, the Shahi Imam asked his community members to remain vigilant against the party. "This does not mean that Muslims would vote for the BJP. Their true face would be known only after the elections. So we have to adopt a policy of wait and watch," he said.

Syed Ahmad Bukhari said that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, was in "league" with the BJP and was helping the candidates of the National Democratic Alliance all over the country. He reiterated his earlier stand that only by setting up a Muslim political party could they solve their problems. "I am working in this regard. But this would take time," he said.

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