Brothers grim: The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid has courted many controversies in the past. From calling actor Shabana Azmi a 'nachne gane wali tawaif' to his support for Saudi renegade Osama bin Laden to backing the BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections, Bukhari has a penchant for staying in the news. This time too, he and his brother Yahya Bukhari, who is the president of the Jama Masjid United Forum, have spewed venom on Varun Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh
Brothers grim: The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid has courted many controversies in the past. From calling actor Shabana Azmi a 'nachne gane wali tawaif' to his support for Saudi renegade Osama bin Laden to backing the BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections, Bukhari has a penchant for staying in the news. This time too, he and his brother Yahya Bukhari, who is the president of the Jama Masjid United Forum, have spewed venom on Varun Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh
On Varun Gandhi's hate speech...
There is no credible leadership in the BJP. The situation was manipulated to make Varun Gandhi a leader. During the last parliamentary elections, Varun had impressed me with his poll speeches. This time around, I was shocked by what he said. But those were not his words. He had been taught to make anti-Muslim comments. But he should know that Muslims don't wear bangles.
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On Taliban's growing influence in Pakistan....
It will definitely affect India. When your neighbourhood is disturbed, how can you be safe? Taliban is the biggest threat not only to Muslims, but the whole of India. But the government is not doing anything about it.
On supporting the Congress...
The Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi is a friend. He had come to my house and requested me to campaign for him. Assam has a huge percentage of Muslims. And I want that the Muslim vote should not be divided.
On the Batla House encounter...
I wasn't mum after the Batla House encounter. I can say with confidence that none of the boys killed in the encounter was a terrorist. The local MLA Parvez Hashmi was taken into confidence before the encounter to pass it off as a genuine one.
Rahul as the future Prime Minister... Syed Ahmed Bukhari,u00a0 Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid, New Delhi
What can I say? It is too early to comment on Rahul. He is handsome, smart and well educated. But he is not connected to the grassroots. Even youth Congress leaders fail to get an appointment with him. This needs to be addressed.
'Yeh Varunu00a0 hai kaun?'
u00a0
On Varun as BJP posterboy...
Varun Gandhi hai kaun? I do not want to give him any importance. He has just entered politics. Not only Muslims, but secular Hindus too don't like him. The BJP may yield electoral dividends in Pilibhit and surrounding constituencies but it won't help elsewhere. The Ram Temple issue is dead. Pravin Togadia does not get any importance these days. Employment and security should be the main issues, not politics of religion.
On Sanjay Gandhi's legacy...
Sanjay Gandhi was a mature politician. Varun is new to politics.
On his support to the BJP last time...
I didn't support the BJP. It was misreported in the media. This time I have said that Muslim voters should take their own decisions. The Samajwadi Party is strong in Rampur, the Congress is strong in Moradabad, and the BSP is strong in Sambhal. In Chandni Chowk, there is no other option but to support the Congress.
On Kalyan Singh and Samajwadi Party....
Mulayam Singh Yadav has to choose between Muslims and Kalyan Singh. The name of Samajwadi Party should be Amar Party. But he will have to pay for the defeat of the party in many constituencies. In the next election, the Samajwadi Party will be finished.
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