Fatwa against chief for hawan on Sonia's b'day

Lucknow, Dec 14: UP Congress chief Salman Khurshid has created yet another controversy after Participating a 'hawan' on the 60th birthday of AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

A Congress worker in Kanpur has approached clerics with the issue, who in turn issued a 'fatwa' (religious dictat) against Mr Khurshid contending that his participation was against Islam.

But leaders close to Mr Khurshid said they would not react to the 'fatwa' to enable the Congress worker get undue publicity. ''We have decided to remain silent on the issue,'' A senior Congress leader in charge of UPCC administration told UNI this morning. He , however, made it clear that it was a conspiracy of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and the partyman raising the issue was agent of SP.

UP Congress chief spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh termed it as a move to confuse Muslims.

The issue was flared up by Haji Mohammad Saliq, a Congress worker,who approached the Naib Imam of Kanpur and principal of Madrasa Hidaul Islam, Maulana Mokhtar Ahsan to seek clarification into the act, four days after Ms Gandhi's birthday on December 9.

Saliq reportedly requested the ulema to spell out if someone who participates in yagna, pooja according to Hindu rites can qualify to be a Muslim. The fatwa received after a few hours was categorical: Such a person will no more remain a Muslim.

Saliq also denied playing into the hands of ruling Samajwadi Party and said his move was aimed at not only Khurshid but other Muslims indulging in similar activities.

Saliq was inducted into the party by the Kanpur MP and the Union state minister for Home Shriprakash Jaiswal during the last parliamentary elections.

Congress leaders, defending Mr Khurshid said his version was not taken before the fatwa was issued. They maintained that Mr Khurshid was secular, therefore, he participated in the hawan along with other party workers. ''Moreover, the hawan was performed for the well-being of Ms Gandhi,'' Congress leaders argue.

UNI