Jamait-e-Islami Hind demands apology from BJP state chief

Jaipur, Sep 23 (UNI) The Jamait-e-Islami Hind has demanded that state BJP president Dr Mahesh Sharma apologise for his reported remarks on the controversial Haj House being built here.

Dr Mohammad Salim Engineer, chief, Jamait-e-Islami Hind, said in a statement that Dr Sharma had said there was a fear that terrorism will spread if the Haj House is built and facilities to Muslims increased.

''These statements have hurt the sentiments of the Muslims and he should apologise publicly to the Muslims, ''the Jamait-e-Islami Chief said.

He also criticised the state Education Minister Ghyanshayam Tiwari, who is against the building of the Haj House at Ramsinghpura in predominantly Hindu Sanganer area, and is siding with the local residents in this matter.

Dr Salim said the education minister's actions indicate the his ''narrow-mindedness and communal and prejudiced mentality,'' adding that this is part of a political conspiracy and a result of land mafia-political nexus.

The Haj House controversy has rocked the state since the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje decided to formally conduct the foundation laying ceremony in Ramsinghpura Wednesday.

Sanganer's BJP unit along with its alllied organisations Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena activists and local residents pelted stones at the police who were guarding the way to the venue for the chief minister.

The police had to resort to lathicharge and lobbed teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the rampaging mob.

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