Jama Masjid shahi iman snaps ties with Samajwadi Party

Severing ties with the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari has sent resignations of his supporters, including his member of Legislative Assembly son-in-law, from all positions in the state government.

"On my directive my son-in-law MLC Umar Ali Khan and chairman of Civil Defence Council Waseem Ahmad have resigned and I have sent their resignations to SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav," Bukhari told PTI.

When asked about the sudden move, Bukhari alleged that in its one year in power in Uttar Pradesh, the SP government did nothing for Muslims.

"Before the Assembly elections, Mulayam had sought my support and at that time several demands, including 18 per cent reservation for Muslims, were raised which he promised to fulfill. But the government failed to protect even the basic rights of Muslims," he said.

He alleged that in the one year of SP regime, 113 communal incidents took place in UP and curfew was clamped at 13 places.

"The loss was that of Muslims," he said, adding that Muslims were not given adequate participation in administrative posts.

"The government was yesterday (on Friday) celebrating its failure which is utterly shameful," he said.

On being asked about his future strategy, Bukhari said "wait and watch".

Bukhari said, "The SP should not dream about the Centre as until and unless it has support of Muslims from UP this dream would never realise."

Meanwhile, chairman of Civil Defence Council Waseem said that he was appointed on the recommendation of the shahi imam and he resigned on his directives. "I am a follower of the shahi imam like thousands of other

people," he said.

The Mulayam-Bukhari pact was sealed before the 2012 state assembly polls, despite opposition from some senior Samajwadi Party leaders.