‘I have invited several Indian and foreign political leaders for attending the anointment ceremony of my son. Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has also been invited, but I have not sent invitation to prime minister Narendra Modi as Muslims have not forgiven him for the Gujarat riots,’ said Bukhari.
Bukhari’s meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi prior to Lok Sabha elections this year had created a storm, as it was seen as move taken by the party towards votebank appeasement. ‘For the ceremony we have also invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with Vice President Hamid Ansari,’ Bukhari added. Among those invited by him are BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Harsh Vardhan, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Vijay Goel, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Justifying the decision of not inviting Modi, Bukhari said, ‘It is not a personal fight. He does not like us and we do not like him. Modi never tried to reach out to the Muslims and kept the Muslims at a distance.’
Reacting sharply to Imam’s statement, the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was unfortunate and asked what message he wants to send out by his action. ‘He is raising questions on himself. Indian Muslims are born in India and they love India and they would never ever think of Pakistan and what message Shahi Imam wants to send out,’ said Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nalin Kohli.
Shaban was picked for the influential post due to his ‘strong inclination’ toward humanities besides his religious capabilities, said Bukhari who has been holding the post since 2000. Shaban will be groomed under his father, who will remain the ‘Shahi Imam’ for his life. Shaban will then take over the mantle from his father as 14th Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in the country.
Bukhari’s meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi prior to Lok Sabha elections this year had created a storm, as it was seen as move taken by the party towards votebank appeasement. ‘For the ceremony we have also invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with Vice President Hamid Ansari,’ Bukhari added. Among those invited by him are BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Harsh Vardhan, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Vijay Goel, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Justifying the decision of not inviting Modi, Bukhari said, ‘It is not a personal fight. He does not like us and we do not like him. Modi never tried to reach out to the Muslims and kept the Muslims at a distance.’
Reacting sharply to Imam’s statement, the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was unfortunate and asked what message he wants to send out by his action. ‘He is raising questions on himself. Indian Muslims are born in India and they love India and they would never ever think of Pakistan and what message Shahi Imam wants to send out,’ said Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nalin Kohli.
Shaban was picked for the influential post due to his ‘strong inclination’ toward humanities besides his religious capabilities, said Bukhari who has been holding the post since 2000. Shaban will be groomed under his father, who will remain the ‘Shahi Imam’ for his life. Shaban will then take over the mantle from his father as 14th Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in the country.