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.
Russian soldier surrenders, people of Ukraine cried when he talked to his mother: Claim
On the one hand, Russian soldiers are causing havoc in Ukraine, and on the other hand, such scene
On Monday, February 10, the first citizen of the country, President Draupadi Murmu will set foot
IDCO, OSIC asked to prepare feasibility report for food mega-parks
Bhubaneswar, March 10 (IANS) The Odisha government has asked its two public sector units (PSUs)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Central Government to place on record the relevant
Where did the coronavirus originate? Did this virus spread from animals to humans or was it leake
There is a lot of sad and worrying news. In the case of new patients, India has overtaken the US
Amid rising cases of black fungus, another disease in the country, AIIMS director Dr. Randeep Gul
Former South Africa captain Smith to split from wife
Capetown, Feb 19 (IANS) Former South Africa cricket captain Graeme Smith and his wife of three-
Patients crossed 83 million; Central government said - Active cases increased again in 4 states
The number of corona patients in the country has crossed 83 lakh. So far 83 lakh 12 thousand 947
In a major boost to regional financial connectivity, India and Nepal have officially launched a p
