Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, has kicked up a storm by snubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 19-year-old son’s investiture ceremony.
Bukhari recently named his son Shaban as his successor and said he will be anointed as the ‘Nayab Shahi Imam’ (Vice Imam) at a ceremony on November 22.
For the function, the Imam has sent out invitations to several Indian and foreign political leaders, nearly 1,000 religious leaders from across the world, and others.
Also on the invitee list is Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, Bukhari has failed to invite his own Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to the event.
This has not gone down well with many, including many other Muslim leaders.
All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board member Kamal Farooqi reportedly said Bukhari’s act will give the entire Muslim community a bad name.
As per a report in a newspaper, Farooqi slammed the Shahi Imam of India’s largest mosque and said it was not a “personal function”.
Muslim leaders also reminded Bukhari that he doesn’t represent Indian Muslims.
Justifying his decision, Bukhari had said that Indian Muslims have still not been able to relate themselves with PM Modi, who has been accused of playing a role in the 2002 Gujarat riots but has been exonerated by various courts and investigating agencies.
Meanwhile, others who have been invited to the ceremony include several ministers like Rajnath Singh and Dr Harsh Vardhan, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
