Lok Janshakti Party leader Abdul Khaliq today condemned the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid for not inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the anointment ceremony of his son, saying it has exposed him as a "mindless and cynical" person who "in no way" represents common Muslims.
The LJP secretary general, who had in a recent interview criticised the Modi government for "growing" anti-Muslim feelings, said Syed Ahmed Bukhari has played a big role in alienating Muslims from the mainstream.
Khaliq said, "On behalf of ordinary Muslims, I strongly condemn his unacceptable and un-Islamic behaviour and state emphatically and unambiguously that he does not in any way represent the common Muslims or their views."
Meanwhile, asked whether Congress President Sonia Gandhi had received Bukhari's invite, party sources said they were not aware if any such invitation had come.
Asked whether she would attend the function, a source said that "the question does not arise".
Bukhari had justified not inviting Modi for the function upon claims that Muslims have not "forgiven" him for the Gujarat riots.
"He (Modi) does not like us (Muslims) and we do not like him," Bukhari had said even as he sent an invite to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the ceremony where his son will be anointed as the 'Naib Shahi Imam' (Vice Imam) of Jama Masjid.
Also critical of the Shahi Imam was Congress MP Husain Dalwai who said there is no succession act in Islam and that it was not necessary that the son of the king should succeed him.
Dalwai also wondered as to why Bukhari had invited the Pakistan prime minister.
"Why did he not call prime ministers of other Muslim countries?" he asked.
