Muslim body appeal to community to boycott Godrej products

Mumbai, Jan 16 (UNI) Taking a serious note of Parmeshwar Godrej, socialite and a member of the Godrej Industries family, inviting controversial author Salman Rushdie to take part in a new AIDS initiative launched by the group, a Muslim body today appealed to the community to boycott Godrej products.

''It is a well known fact that Rushdie has always hurt religious sentiments of the Muslim community through his blasphemous writings.

And Ms Godrej by playing host to him has, in a way, tried to make a mockery of the community. So we appeal to the Muslims to boycott Godrej products,'' Maulana Ali Athar Ali, President of the All India Ulema Association, told UNI today.

''We have also urged the group to apologise to the Muslim world for this insult to the community,'' he said.

The Association would also stage a 'dharna' at the Group's headquarters here in protest against the invite, after the 10th Moharram, which falls on January 19, he said.

According to him, the boycott decision was taken at a meeting of the various religious scholars which took place soon after Rushdi had departed from the city.

Earlier on Sunday, over 200 political activists had protested Rushdie's stay here and even burnt his effigy.

UNI IAS SR Mir GC2044