Mumbai, April 22 (IANS) Softening their stand on the Congress, prominent Shia organisations, community leaders and Islamic scholars Tuesday appealed to Muslims to vote for the party in the ongoing national elections.
Top Shia leaders announced their decision Tuesday after a meeting late Monday night in the city, an official said.
"Remember the Gujarat riots before voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. It's the RSS which is trying to make him a hero," Khoja Ashan Ashri Jamaat president Safdar Karmali said on behalf of various groups.
Karmali said the Muslim community "is not safe" under Modi and in order to foil the designs of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Muslims must vote for parties with secular credentials, which are the Congress and its allies.
Ali Akbar Sharoff, another prominent Shia leader, said that past differences of the community with the Congress and its leaders like Ahmed Patel must be buried now and Muslims should cast their votes in favour of that party.
Shia leader Shabbir Somji expressed concern that India was passing through a crucial phase with communal forces raising their heads and it was imperative for the minorities to strengthen the hands of the secular forces led by the Congress.
The development comes five days after a delegation of Shia leaders led by state Minority Affairs Minister Naseem Khan and senior community leader Irfan Kidwai met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and expressed their full support to the Congress.
The meeting came soon after Lucknow-based Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad met BJP president Rajnath Singh and expressed the community's support to the party.
The Shias have also rejected the so-called 'fatwa' (edict) issued by Maulana Jawwad, saying that as per the community's customs and traditions, 'fatwas' can only be issued from Iraq or Iran.
Hectic campaigning is also underway on various social networking websites, appealing to the country's 28 crore Muslims to vote en bloc for the Congress and defeat communal forces.
Some of the major groups that have expressed support to the Congress include the All India Shia Personal Law Board, the Mazare Shaeed Salis (Agra), the Mogha Masjid Imambada, the Imam of Shia Rehmatabad Masjid and Haideri Federation of India.
Bringing the opposition together, don't let the remote control get tagged; Thorns in the path of Congress boss Kharge
After 24 years, senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who has been elected non-Gandhi president of Congress, may have a tough time ahead. In fact, before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Kharge will have to
Shraddha Murder Case Update: Aftab has no regrets, even the Mumbai Police were not suspicious in the initial inquiry
Delhi Police is trying to find the concrete evidence against Aftab Amin Poonawalla, accused of brutally killing live-in partner Shraddha Walker. The Delhi Police, which has been searching the Mehrauli
The action of the crime branch intensified, Maulana Saad of Tabligi Jamaat is hiding here!
New Delhi: Police has started a crackdown to arrest Maulana Saad, the head of Tabligi Jamaat. It is being told that the police is not in the mood to give any concession and wants to arrest him soon.
Justice U U Lalit: Justice UU Lalit will be the new CJI, Chief Justice Raman recommends to the government
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice NV Ramana today elected Justice UU Lalit as his successor. He has recommended the government appoint Justice Lalit as the new CJI.
Uttarakhand: protest against cancellation of Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Taxi Federation said this big thing
Haridwar: Uttarakhand Maxi-Taxi Federation is opposing it after the postponement of Chardham Yatra by the state government. For this, a meeting was held today at the Maxi Taxi Federation office
The Reserve Bank said for the first time - the country's GDP may remain negative in 2020-21, read the big things in the press conference
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank has given a big relief in the Corona period. The repo rate has been reduced by 0.4 percent to 4 percent. With this decision of RBI, the loan will be cheaper and inflation
Haryana Cabinet Expansion: Cabinet expansion of Nayab Saini government today, new ministers will take oath at 4.30 pm.
Cabinet expansion of Nayab Singh Saini government of Haryana will take place today at 4:30 pm. According to sources, six MLAs can take oath as ministers today. All eyes are on former Home Minister
Aam Aadmi Party, Congress Served IT Notice over Funding
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The Income Tax Department has served a notice on Aam Aadmi Party seeking an explanation on charges of receiving funds from dubious sources as alleged by a splinter group --
Story by Jailed Former MP included in Textbook
Patna, Jan 16 (IANS) A story written in Hindi by former Bihar MP Anand Mohan, serving life term for the 1994 lynching of Gopalganj district magistrate G. Krishnaiah, has been included in a Class
Victoria Memorial, Museum blackout in Kolkata for Earth Hour
Kolkata, March 28 (IANS) As millions of people across the globe pledged to switch off non-essential lights for an hour to observe the Earth Hour, the city's iconic Victoria Memorial and the Indian
