New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) On the eve of Delhi assembly polls, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari Friday appealed to Muslims to vote for the AAP but the party rejected his "unsolicited" support and questioned its timing.
Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) snubbed Bukhari's offer, accusing him of practising communal politics, the BJP hit out at its rival, accusing the Arvind Kejriwal-led party of polarising Delhi on communal lines and claiming the appeal "was issued on request of AAP leaders".
Bukhari said: "The AAP seems to be in a position to form the government and we must give them strength and help in forming a secular government in Delhi."
However, the AAP rejected his support.
"Today, on the eve of Delhi polls, a man who represents regressive and the worst side of politics came out and gave support to the AAP," AAP leader Ashish Khetan told the media.
"We not only reject the offer made by Ahmed Bukhari but we also want to make it clear that the AAP is here to fight communal politics that Bukhari represents," he added.
Khetan said Bukhari's past utterances symbolised communalism.
In a statement later, the AAP said: "All attempts by such elements which seem to be propped up by the BJP want to vitiate the communal atmosphere in Delhi."
Reacting to Bukhari's remark, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shahnawaz Hussain attacked the AAP saying it was trying to "divide" Delhi communally, while his party colleague Nirmala Sitharman claimed that the appeal had been made on request of AAP leaders "including Alka Lamba" and this "had been confirmed by Imam himself".
She also accused AAP of adopting "every dirty trick" to capture power in Delhi, saying that the party lecturing from "self made moral high ground stands completely exposed".
In a statement, Sitharaman said that AAP has emerged as a party "which unashamedly adopts every dirty trick to capture power", alleging it "exploit the links with anti-national forces, use cash and liquor to gain votes and are now trying to polarize the voters by seeking the fatwa in their support. AAP's desperation is out in the open".
She also alleged that AAP has given tickets to people associated with anti-national forces, claiming its candidate from Okhla Amanatullah Khan "has openly supported Zia-ur-Rehman, an accused in Delhi and Ahmedabad bomb blasts".
It has been a trait of AAP's politics, perhaps a cultivated habit, to seek, receive and then to pretentiously reject," she said, citing its acceptance of support from Congress after the December 2013 elections and allegations of getting some funds from shell companies.
She said AAP "pretentiously has decided to reject" the offer of support by Bukhari.
Delhi goes to the polls Saturday to elect a 70-member assembly. The votes will be counted Feb 10.
Muslims account for over 11 percent of Delhi's nearly 17 million population.
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, Bukhari called upon Muslims to vote for the Congress.Imam's younger brother Yahya Bukhari said the chief cleric had never stuck to any particular party in the past. "He keeps vacillating which is not good for the nation as well as for the community," he told a TV news channel.
US-China: Will America impose sanctions on China as well? Action can be taken if military aid is sent to Russia
After imposing a lot of sanctions on Russia during the Ukraine war, America is now going to tighten the reins on China as well. It has been revealed by quoting American officials and sources that
Oppo A33 launched with a 5000mAh battery, this phone will compete
Smartphone company Oppo has launched its new phone Oppo A33. Currently, this phone has been launched in the Indonesian market. The phone is equipped with a 5000mAh battery with a Qualcomm Snapdragon
CM Yogi sought a list of careless officers, action may be taken against the divisional commissioners of Ayodhya and Agra
After seeking reports from the Tehsildar to the DM for negligence in settling revenue disputes, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has now summoned the report of the Divisional Commissioners. Chief
Gujarat Election 2022: Hardik Patel's target on Congress, asked why so much hatred for Hindus?
Politician and social worker Hardik Patel, who gave a big blow to the Congress ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat, has now made serious allegations against the Congress. Recently,
Uddhav is scared, not overbearing like Balasaheb: instead of opening the poles of the leaders, he requested to return, but it is not easy for the rebels to enter Mumbai.
In his speech, Uddhav Thackeray neither mentioned any conspiracy, adopts an attacking attitude, nor surrounded any party or person, whereas Shiv Sainik is an attacker. But hearing Uddhav's speech, it
How much success did the Modi government get in making a self-reliant India?
During the parade on 26 January this year, the Department of Biotechnology in its tableau on the Rajpath showed the vaccine development process of Covid-19 under the 'Self-reliant India' campaign.
Himachal Congress poll with consensus: CM
Shimla, Feb 9 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Monday said the election to the state Congress committee would be held with consensus among all party leaders."The polls to the
The wait is over, the cabinet expansion of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis's government will happen tomorrow in Maharashtra
The wait for the Eknath Shinde government cabinet expansion in Maharashtra is about to end. A senior BJP leader has claimed that the cabinet expansion of the state government will take place on
Japan Earthquake: Earth trembled again in Japan, the intensity measured at 6.1 on the Richter scale
Strong tremors of the earthquake have been felt in Hokkaido, Japan. Its intensity has been measured at 6.1 on the Richter scale. Earthquake tremors were felt at 2.48 pm (Indian time). The National
Center's last warning to Twitter: If the order is not obeyed, the company will be responsible for every tweet, and will snatch the intermediate status
The central government has asked Twitter to comply with all its orders given till now, giving the last deadline till July 4. Also, warned that if he did not do so, he was prepared to lose his
