New Delhim Oct 30 (Bhaskar News) : Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, has stoked a fresh controversy by sending invitation to Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the anointment of his successor Naib Imam but refused to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shahi Imam of the country's largest mosque has sent out invitations to nearly 1,000 religious leaders from across the world along with politician like Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh,
Explaining the reason behind not inviting the Prime Minister, Bukhari said, “Indian Muslims have still not been able to relate themselves with Modi and they don’t consider him their leader. He has been accused of playing a role in the 2002 Gujarat riots and Modi should first tender apology for the massacre.”
The ceremony, to be held in Jama Masjid on November 22, will see 19-year-old Syed Shaban Bukhari taking over as Naib Imam. The teenager is pursuing Bachelors in Social Work at a private university in the national capital.
The invites have also been sent to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, apart from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, BJP leaders Vijay Goel and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
The Shahi Imam's post is considered quite influential. Bukhari's endorsement of Congress in the run-up to the 2014 general elections had triggered criticism against the party.
The Muslim cleric had also extended his support to SP before the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.