By RINA,
New Delhi: Current electoral battle is becoming rife with allusions to Muslim religious personalities, a trend sensitive enough to bruise the community’s sentiments.
Days ago, Bajrang Dal fire brand activist Vinay Katiyar coined a provocative slogan: ‘Bajrang Bali ki Chalegi, Ali ki Nahi (Bajrang Bali will overrule and not Ali)’. Reacting to it, a columnist wrote, ‘Ali rules over crores of human hearts, how Vinay Katiyar can banish this? He should apologize before Muslims.’
In the meantime, U. P. cabinet minister Nasimuddin Siddiqi likened Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with the army of Imam Hussain (ra) in a party meeting in Saharanpur, and protest was round the corner.
Imam of Shiite Jama Masjid Maulana Izhar Haider said: “This vicious slogan has proved that BSP is no different from Bhatratiya Janata Party. Both leaders have toyed with Muslim sentiments and both of them have belittled great personalities of Islam.”
Reacting over these developments, leading Shiite scholar Maulana Syed Zafar Abbas said, “Anti-Muslim and anti-Islam stance of Vinay Katiyar is known to all but did Nasimuddin Siddiqi not know the decorum of the army of Imam Hussain (ra)? It is moral destitution to use such a simile.” Allama Asghar Mehdi and Syed Azhar Kazmi said, “Breaking Muslims’ hearts has become politicians’ hobby.”
City president of Jamiat Ulam-e-Hind Maulana Farid Mozahri said, “This is matter of concern that incidents of speaking lightly about great personalities of Islam are on increase. It must be deplored.” Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bilal of United Muslim Morcha said, “Law should be invoked in such cases of derogation.”
Samajwadi leader Amar Singh was quick to realize the folly when an Urdu newspaper captioned his speech as ‘Kalyan Singh is Hurr (a supporter of Imam Hussain (ra)), A Bhasmasur (a demon who incinerates by mere look) for Advani. He explained, “I meant a freeman because Kalyan Singh is now free from shackles of Sanghi Sena.” Hamia’at-e-Islami Hind’s Dr. Jamil Manawi says, “Our governments should ban such painful statements.”