AAP rejects Jama Masjid Shahi Imam’s ‘dramatic’ support

New Delhi: Delhi goes to the polls on Saturday to elect a new Assembly in a high-voltage battle between the BJP and a resurgent Aam Aadmi Party, billed as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a description stoutly rejected by his party leaders.

A day before the vote, Jama Masjid’s Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari’s unsolicited support for the AAP created a controversy as Arvind Kejriwal’s party flatly rejected the offer and questioned its motive.

A close aide of Imam Bukhari claimed they were asked by an AAP leader for support, the AAP hinted at a covert deal between the Shahi Imam and the BJP.

Rejecting Imam Bukhari’s support, the AAP said this was a “clear attempt to polarise the votebank”. The BJP accused the AAP of communal politics, and said it stood exposed for attempting to polarise votes.

Reacting to Imam Bukhari’s “fatwa” asking Muslims to support the AAP, Mr Jaitley said a “befitting reply to such fatwas is that those against them should come out in full strength and vote”.

In his appeal to Muslim voters, Imam Bukhari cited a “grave threat” to the community from communal forces and urged the people to help the AAP form an “honest and secular” government. He accused the BJP of extending support to those trying to divide society.

“The country is facing the grave dangers of communalism and Muslims are the target of communal forces,” Imam Bukhari said, as he asked people to support the AAP to “protect the country from divisive forces”.

Reacting to Imam Bukhari’s appeal, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the party does not require his support as it was against any type of “caste and communal politics”.