Fatwa on BSP slogan sparks off war of words among parties

Lucknow, Feb 15 (PTI) A war of words has broken out among
political parties in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh
following the issuance of a decree by Islamic seminary Dar-ul
Uloom terming Bahujan Samaj Party's slogan 'Jai Bhim' as
un-Islamic and violative of Shariat.

While BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Mayawati has downplayed the decree (fatwa) saying the
"greeting" had no religious connotation and was not binding on
its workers, the Samajwadi Party has been quick to grab the
opportunity to try and stoke Muslim ire against the ruling
party.

SP leader and spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary has claimed
that "the slogan of Jai Bhim has been forced on BSP workers".

While the decree has caused some concern among BSP's
Muslim leaders, a cleric from the seminary Asad Madani, who
joined the party recently said the slogan was not a compulsion
for party workers.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Hriday Narayan
Dikshit said, "Jai Bhim is simply a form of salutation. It is
really unfortunate that now fatwas are being issued on how
people interact with each other."

Naib Imam of Idgah (Lucknow) and member of All India
Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi
Mahali, however, said, "A political party cannot compel
Muslims to hail an individual as that is un-Islamic." PTI AVS
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