Withdraw support, Imam tells NDA allies

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 9. The Shahi Imam of Delhi's historic Jama Masjid, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, today strongly criticised the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, for suggesting that a Ram temple could be built at the demolished Babri Masjid's site and urged the non-BJP allies in the National Democratic Alliance to withdraw support to the Government.

Asserting that the Masjid ``was and will continue to be there'', the Shahi Imam said the Prime Minister had lost all secular pretensions and had been exposed as the most communal person in the country. He added that NDA had become a ``Government of criminals with the names of three Ministers figuring in the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigations in the demolition case.''

Addressing a press conference here, he called upon leaders of the main NDA allies, such as the Telugu Desham Party, Trinamool Congress, Samata Party and Janata Dal(U), to opt out of the Government. A demonstration would be held at the Jama Masjid Chowk on December 15 to appeal to the allies to quit the NDA.

The statement also revealed the RSS' hidden agenda of trying to reduce Indian Muslims to second-class citizens, the Imam said, adding that Muslims would never allow a Ram temple to be constructed at the disputed site. ``Even if the Government gives the entire Ayodhya in exchange, it will not be accepted. Demolition of the mosque does not mean that it is no longer there.''

He added that a joint delegation of Muslim leaders will soon meet the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, to apprise him about the communal situation in the country.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, an Islamic organisation, has expressed concern over the Prime Minister's statement.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Temple not on NDA agenda: Venkaiah Naidu
Next     : PM signs UNESCO manifesto