In a boost for Cong Jama Masjid Shahi Imam backs party for polls

The Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari today declared support for the Congress saying, despite his complaints against the party, he could not support a party that would divide the country. “I spoke to Sonia Gandhi at length on various issues and on the hope that she will keep her promises I declare that for the 2014 polls we will support the Congress. The secular vote should not be divided. The Hindus and Muslims of India must vote for humanity.” Bukhari said. [caption id=“attachment_1465987” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A file photo of Syed Ahmed Bukhari. AFP[/caption] “I have complaints against the Congress, but that doesn’t mean we will vote for people who want to divide the country,” he said. However he said that this declaration was not a fatwa but only an appeal to the people of this country. Bukhari praised Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress saying that they had done good work for Muslims in West Bengal. “It seems like Mamata Banerjee will seriously try to work towards solving problems of the Muslims,” he said. However he criticised the Samajwadi Party over the Muzaffarnagar riots. “The Samajwadi Party has never kept its promises to the Muslims. It has even failed to protect the lives of Muslims. The Supreme Court had said that if the administration was responsible the situation wouldn’t have worsened.” He also said the BSP couldn’t be trusted. “The BSP has proven that it can go with any party to be in power, so it cannot be trusted. Hence, we don’t support them.” On the Cobrapost sting on the Babri Masjid demolition, “We have been saying for 20 years what they said today.”