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Rediff.com  » News » Fatwa against Bihar Muslim minister for shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'

Fatwa against Bihar Muslim minister for shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'

By M I Khan
Last updated on: July 30, 2017 21:10 IST
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The minister later apologised after CM Nitish Kumar asked him to do so in view of the growing controversy. M I Khan reports from Patna. 

A Mufti of Imarat-e-Shariya, an influential Muslim body in Bihar, has issued a fatwa against state minority affairs minister Khurshid Alam alias Firoz Ahmad for shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'ostracised him from the community'. His nikah was also cancelled.

Mufti Suhail Ahmad Qasmi of Patna based Imarat-e-Shariya has issued the fatwa against the minister for shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' in the state assembly on July 28, the day Chief Minister Nitish Kumar won the trust vote.

The fatwa says the minister has no place in the Muslim community.

Alam told Rediff.com that he is hardly bothered by any kind of fatwa against him.

"I am not at all worried and I don't take it seriously," he said.

"I will not be scared by such fatwas. I'm a true Muslim and there's no stain on my character," Alam said. 

He said there is nothing wrong if he said 'Jai Shri Ram' for the sake of harmony and development of the state.

"I will say 'Jai Shhri Ram' again if I think it is necessary for peace and harmony," he said.

"If saying 'Jai Shri Ram' is important for the country, then I would not stop myself from saying it. I was not just elected to serve the Muslim community. My duty is to serve the public of Bihar, irrespective of their cast, creed and religion", Alam said.

Alam asserted that his religion cannot be questioned based on the phrase 'Jai Shri Ram'.

"Islam teaches you to love all. My faith is not so weak that just by saying 'Jai Shri Ram', I will turn into a Hindu. Allah knows my purpose of saying ' Jai Shri Ram'. We all worship the same God," he said.

"My work would prove my identity. I am would only be afraid, if I am unable to fulfil my responsibilities towards the public of Bihar," he said.

However, later in the day, Alam apologised for chanting the slogan.

"I apologise to all those who were hurt by my shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'," Alam said.

According to sources in the JD-U, taking serious note of growing controversy, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had asked him to apologise.

"Khurshid Alam apologised after the chief minister told him to do so," a senior JD-U leader said.

However, JD-U's ally Bharatiya Janata Party had come fully in Alam's support.

But opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal's Muslim leaders criticised him and termed his act as a 'chamchagiri' (sycophancy) to become a minister.

Meanwhile, after the minister ignored the fatwa, Mufti Suhail Ahmad Qasmi said that he issued the fatwa in personal capacity and it should not be seen as a move of Imarat-e-Shariya.

With inputs and photograph from ANI.

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M I Khan in Patna
 
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