By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) chief Shaista Amber on Saturday opposed the salary/honorarium paid by government to the Imams of mosques across the country. However, the apex body of Imams, All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques (AIOIM) lashed out Amber terming her as ignorant about the issue.
Amber termed it as a ploy to influence the Imams of mosques by the Congress led UPA government. “The Congress government wants to make the Imams as their slaves. They are giving this offer so that they are indebted to the government. The task of Imam is linked to religion and it cannot be performed in lieu of some payment as salary by the government,” she said. However, Amber also stated that it is the responsibility of the Muslim community to come forward and support their Imam so that he can live a respectable life and is able to sustain his family and children.
Shaista Amber
Amber also appealed to the Imams to reject the payment being made by the government as it is illegal. She also stated that any proposal with enhanced payment should also be turned down by the Imams.
However, the dissenting voice by AIMWPLB chief Shaista Amber has not gone down well with the All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques (AIOIM). The AIOIM said to be a representative body of half a million Imams of India is in forefront demanding better honorarium to the Imams. The organisation even has held a one day Imams’ conclave in Qaiserbagh Baradari on April 16 and raised the demand for honorarium to Imams in the state through the State owned Waqf Board. The demand received support from various quarters with Brahmin Sansad chief Pandit Amar Nath Mishra and union cabinet minister Sriprakash Jaiswal registering their presence in the conclave. However, the Waqf Board turned down their demand.
“Those who are opposing the demand for respectable honorarium to Imams are misled and not aware of the total issue. They should be aware that Imams are being paid salary as per the directive of apex court. We oppose such elements who are trying to diver the issue,” said Chief of AIOIM, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi.