Muslim clerics advocate for 'clean Ganga'

Lucknow, Jul 26 (UNI) Cutting across religious lines, various Muslim clerics today came out in support of Shankaracharya of Dwarka, Swaroopanand Sarswati, advocating the cause of cleaning the holy river Ganga at Hardwar and other places.

''We strongly believe that the river Ganga had faith of all the Indians attached to it and it should be pollution-free,'' noted Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad in a joint press conference also attended by Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman Waisi, Imam of Tile Wali Masszid, Khan Mohd Asif of Muslim Mazlis, Mohd Ali Khan state president of Momin Conference and Wasim Haider, secretary of Ajit Singh-led RLD.

Asserting it was not a religious matter but the issue was related to every citizen, they were of the opinion that all the rivers of the country should be cleaned. ''These rivers provided water to everyone irrespective of the caste or religion and they should be respected at any cost,'' the Muslim clerics said.

Maulana Jawwad said even the river Yamuna in Delhi and Gomti in Lucknow had so much of pollution which should be taken care of immediately.

All the Muslim leaders applauded the initiative of Shankaracharya in this regard and were unison in supporting the drive launched by the Hindu seer.

UNI SB SKB RAI1835