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.
Zoom app is dangerous for privacy from children's education to business meeting, try these 5 options
Between lockdowns, the Zoom App is becoming very popular all over the world, from video conferencing platforms in the office to meetings to online studies. On this platform, up to 100 people can be
T20 World Cup 2024: Azam Khan was seen eating fast food in New York, Pakistani fans vented their anger; the video went viral
Pakistan cricket team's wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan has been in the news mostly for his fitness and once again he has come under the target of critics. Azam Khan was seen enjoying fast food in New
WHO's warning - more use of antibiotics against corona will be Dangerous
Washington. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that antibiotics are being used excessively to combat the coronavirus, which may prove to be very dangerous in the future.
The wait for the WTC final extended: India will have to win the fourth Test, if they lose, they will have to wait for the New Zealand-Sri Lanka series
Team India suffered a crushing defeat by 9 wickets at the hands of Australia in the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Due to the flop show of the batsmen, the Indian team lost the match
58 commandos protect Ambani: Commandos are armed with automatic weapons, apart from these, 20 private guards deployed from Israel
The Supreme Court on June 29 stayed the direction issued by the Tripura High Court to the Central Government in the matter of Z + security of the country's top businessman Mukesh Ambani.
Woman who saved Muslims in Riots hoists flag in Bihar
Patna, Jan 26 (IANS) Commoner Shail Devi, who saved the lives of 10 Muslims during the communal clashes in Muzaffarpur district earlier this month, hoisted the national flag at the state Congress
NCC a mini India: Modi
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) Calling the NCC a "mini-India", Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said it displays the unity in diversity that is India's strength.Speaking at the NCC rally, the
Twitter New Logo X: Is the Twitter logo related to the 'X' sign of the Indian Railways? Why this mark is made behind the coach
'X' sign on India Train coach: Twitter's logo 'X' is trending a lot. This is being discussed everywhere. Indian Railways has also shared a post related to this. South Western Railway has questioned
The Kashmir Files: Politics intensifies between BJP-Congress on 'The Kashmir Files', Gandhi family silent on Indira's letter
The film 'The Kashmir Files', made on the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and the atrocities on them by the jihadis, is creating a tremendous buzz in the country. So far, five
Farmer leaders meet Rajnath over land acquisition ordinance
New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) Farmer leaders from various parts of India Tuesday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him of their concerns regarding the land acquisition ordinance.Talking to
