Fulfil promises or face Muslim voters’ anger, Bukhari warns SP
LUCKNOW: Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, on Saturday issued a warning to the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh to either fulfil the promises to the community or face its anger during elections.
“We are giving three months’ time to the state government to fulfil all the promises it had made to Muslims during the last assembly polls in the state,” Bukhari said at a press conference.
Otherwise, Muslims would look for another option and vote against the SP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, added Bukhari. “We have also sought time from the chief minister to convey our concern and issues related with Muslims,” said the cleric.
He also attacked senior Samajwadi Party leader and urban development minister Azam Khan without naming him.
“The Muslim face of the Samajwadi Party has failed to do anything for the community,” Bukhari told newspersons in Lucknow. He was here to preside over a ‘Representative Convention’ of Muslims.
When asked to name the SP leader, Bukhari said: “You all are very well aware of that person. There is no point in taking his name here (press conference).”
Replying to a query on the JNU incident and its fallout on the country, the Shahi Imam said: “It is all political. Everyone (political parties) wants to score a point.”
“Even two varying videos have come up, both showing different accounts of the incident,” said Bukhari.
SECURITY GUARD ROUGHS UP SCRIBE
A Delhi Police security guard deployed for Bukhari’s security tried to forcibly remove a journalist from the press conference.
The incident took place when journalist Javid Zaidi of an Urdu daily asked Bukhari how much support he enjoyed among clerics in Uttar Pradesh. When other journalists opposed the guard’s action, the policeman relented and let Zaidi go. Later, Bukhari issued an apology on behalf of the security guard.