Lucknow:
On the eve of Delhi polls, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari today appealed to the Muslims to vote for AAP but the party promptly rejected the offer which led to a slugfest between the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and the BJP.
In his appeal, Bukhari urged Muslims to help AAP to form an “honest and secular” government, citing “grave threat” to the community from communal forces but AAP said it does not need his support as it was against any kind of caste and communal politics.
In an apparent indication to BJP, a number of AAP leaders alleged that certain forces have been trying to “polarise” people ahead of the elections and that the rival party could be behind the offer.
“A man who represents regressive politics, communal side of politics comes out and offers support to a party which is fighting its elections for common man and is setting new benchmark in politics. This is a blatant attempt to polarise the polls,” AAP leader Ashish Khaitan said.
Attacking AAP for “seeking” the support and then rejecting it, BJP accused the party of doing communal politics and said it stood exposed for attempting to polarise votes ahead of Delhi elections.
“Aam Aadmi Party stands exposed for doing communal politics. They are completely rattled and that is why they are attempting to polarise votes on communal lines,” Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Syed Yahya Bukhari, President of Jama Masjid United Forum (JMUF) and younger brother of the Imam, questioned the decision and wondered why he extended support to different parties from time to time.
“I think the voters of Delhi should question him why he is supporting different parties from time to time? What is the reason behind that? What Shahi Imam said today, he could have said before,” Yahya said.
