Lucknow, April 5 (IANS) Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari's open support to the Congress for the Lok Sabha election has drawn sharp criticism from the political parties and Muslim groups in Uttar Pradesh.
While Shia cleric Kalbe Jawwad Saturday asserted that the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slug fest has irked the minorities, National Ulema Council president Maulana Aamir Rashdi slammed the Jama Masjid Imam for "the haazri (attendance) in Sonia Gandhi's durbaar".
Bukhari should come and clear what "deal" he has struck with the Congress, Rashdi said adding the Congress is a party, which has "always ditched the Muslims".
The Muslims in the country, were not a property of Bukhari, Rashdi said urging minorities to vote as per their choice of secular candidates.
Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangimahali, a prominent Muslim voice in the state, also came down heavily on Bukhari for his appeal to the Muslims, to vote for the Congress.
"Such calls to vote on religious lines hurt the democracy" Farangimahali told IANS adding in any case, the Muslims were not obliged to follow the political diktats of Bukhari.
"In the past, the Imam has sided with the BJP and the SP, I am sure the Muslims know what are the problems dear to them and would vote accordingly," he said.
Political parties including the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party (SP) have also decried Bukhari for announcing his support Friday to the Congress.
Uttar Pradesh Urban development and Minority Affairs Minister Azam Khan urged Bukhari to rethink on his decision.
Bukhari has extended his support to the SP in the 2012 state assembly election and appealed to the Muslims to vote for Mulayam Singh Yadav's party.
Intelligence meeting of Zardari-ISI chief in Dubai: Elections may be held soon in Pakistan, Imran said - now the army should intervene immediately
There is every possibility of a political boil in Pakistan once again. It is being said that if it is possible very soon in the country, then general elections can be held in October. According to
Petrol Diesel Price: Petrol-diesel prices increased for the second consecutive day, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the reason
For the second consecutive day, the prices of petrol and diesel have been increased by the state-owned oil companies. Diesel price has increased by 26 to 27 paise, while petrol price has also
Atul Subhash Case: 'Child should not be allowed to be used for bail', Atul's lawyer argues on Nikita's plea
A big update is coming out on the Atul Subhash suicide case. In the case, Akash Jindal, the lawyer of software engineer Atul Subhash, has raised questions on the bail plea of the accused. He
The English version of Pushpa's Srivalli song is blowing, people said - will cross 10 million
The craze of Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna's film Pushpa has gone global. The film is going to be released in 2 months but instead of ending the trend of Pushpa, it is increasing. As soon as social
Murtaza's codeword decoded, intentions exposed: Jihadi used to talk to gurus in Arabic, Bakhshish means terrorist funding and Khatmal means police
The religious book found from Murtaza, accused of attacking the PAC jawans deployed in the security of Gorakhnath temple, also contains the codewords of his jihadi designs. He used to talk to his
Inauguration of Shivamogga Airport: PM Modi said - the day is not far when countrymen will travel in 'Make in India' aircraft
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Karnataka on Monday. He first inaugurated the Shivamogga Airport here. The PM extended birthday greetings to former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa, who was present on
LIC IPO: LIC IPO defrauded investors as soon as it was listed, Rs 42500 crore was sunk in a few minutes
LIC IPO was open for subscription on May 4 and till May 9, it has received an overwhelming response from policyholders, retail, and other investors. But due to the value of falling shares in the grey
Himachal CM leaves chopper for snow-bound people
Shimla, March 19 (IANS) For mitigating the hardships faced by the snow-bound people in Himachal Pradesh, the 80-year-old chief minister has grounded his plans for flying to the national
Dream Girl 2 Advance Booking: Dream Girl 2 blast before release, 'Pooja' silver in booking collection
Dream Girl 2 Advance Booking Collection: Ayushmann Khurrana will once again appear in front of the audience by becoming 'Pooja'. His upcoming film 'Dream Girl 2' is going to hit the theaters tomorrow.
Omicron Variant: 99% of Omicron patients are recovering in seven days, then why are doctors alert.
The cases of corona infection are increasing rapidly again across the country. In the last 24 hours, more than 37 thousand cases have been reported. During this, more than 100 corona patients have
