Shahi Imam invites Sharif, not Modi, for son’s anointment

 

New Delhi, Oct 30, 2014: The Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari Thursday said he has not invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his son’s anointment as the next chief cleric.

 

Bukhari, however, said he has invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and also four Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including two ministers.

 

"We have invited the prime minister of Pakistan as we have had relations with him since my father’s time, unlike with Modi, whom we have not invited," Bukhari told.

 

The anointment of Bukhari’s son, 19-year-old Shaban, will be held Nov 22. The guests have been invited for a special dinner Nov 29.

 

"Modi has not done anything for Indian Muslims even after coming to power. Indian Muslims have not forgiven him for the 2002 Gujarat riots," Bukhari said, referring to the communal clashes in Gujarat in which around 1,000 Muslims were killed.

 

"Modi has not even apologised (for the riots) and reached out to the Muslims," he added.

 

"We have also invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi alongwith Vice President Hamid Ansari," Bukhari added.