Bukhari said no to Modi, yes to Nawaz: Now Jaipur court orders police to file FIR against Imam

New Delhi, Nov 13: Jama Masjid Imam, Syed Ahmed Bukhari is in fresh trouble for not inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the function of formal announcement of his successor.

According to reports, a court has ordered the Jaipur Police to register an FIR in the matter. The Court's order came on a petition filed by Rafik Khan.
In the petition, Khan said that Bukhari has tried to disturb the social harmony of the country by not inviting Prime Minister of the India. Instead, Imam urged Pakistan premiere Nawz Sharif to grace the occasion.

Khan had alleged that Jama Masjid is a national property and heritage. With that theory all the function related with the Masjid comes under the national function.

Lashing out at Bhukari for his snobbish act, petitioner further said that Imam encouraged the animosity between Hindu and Muslims.

When asked why he not invited Prime Minister, he had said, "I have no personal issues with Modi. Our issues are only ideological. He is been the head of this country for four months, but the Muslims of this country are still not comfortable. He has always treated Muslims as second class citizens. There has been this great talk about development, but the Muslims are not included in it. He has never called to talk about the problems of the Muslim population"

Bukhari's nineteen-year-old son Shaban Bukhari has been chosen to succeed his father as the 14th Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid. He will be anointed as the 'Nayab Shahi Imam' (Vice Imam) at a ceremony on November 22 which will be attended by around 1,000 religious leaders from across the world.

It is shocking that Imam didn't not request Narendra Modi to join the occasion, though BJP's other important leaders like Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union health Minister Harsh Vardhan have been invited.

From Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi have got invitation. Samajwadi party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav has also been requested to grace the occasion.

The Shahi Imam's post is considered quite influential. Bukhari's endorsement of Congress in the run-up to the 2014 general elections had triggered criticism against the party. The Muslim cleric had also extended his support to SP before the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

One India News
(With inputs from PTI)