Govt should also subsidise pilgrimage to Mansarovar: Mufti Abdul Mannan Kalimi

By Prabeer Sikdar

DEHRADUN, 7 May: Mufti Abdul Mannan Kalimi, 57, is not widely known outside UP’s Moradabad, but the Congress High Command still holds him in high esteem. At the time when former cricketer-turned-politician Mohammad Azharuddin was campaigning for Congress’ KC Singh ‘Baba’ in Kashipur, recently, Kalimi was busy guiding his wife Sangeeta Bijlani in Moradabad.

He is the one who introduced Azharuddin to the Muslim dominated electorate of Moradabad, where he works as an Islamic lecturer at the Islamic Academy College, Moradabad. He teaches Quran/Hadis.

Regarded as an Islamic spiritual leader, Kalimi is also the National President of the Delhi based Majlis Ulema-e-Hind (a religious organisation having branches in 14 Indian states). He is an expert in Arabic, Persian, Hindi and English languages.

He is now in Doon as an AICC Election Observer for UP/Uttarakhand to urge Uttarakhand voters to go the Congress way. Here are some excerpts from an exclusive interview:

Q. Why do you consider Congress as good for the Minority Community, specially Muslims?

The Congress party is the one that would protect the rights of the minorities, as it is secular and peace-loving. Though SP and BSP are also secular, these parties are based on caste and community distinctions, which may not lead to development.

But, both the major political parties in India have at some point of time been anti-minority.

If one looks at Gujarat and anti-Sikh riots, it is true. But at the moment, Congress is good for Muslims.

But what if there are few takers for what you say and Muslims in Uttarakhand go on to vote the way they want?

My job as an AICC observer is to advise the people of my community. Ultimately, it is up to them to cast votes according to their conscience.

In what way have you helped Azharuddin in Moradabad?

Being new to Moradabad LS constituency, I introduced Azharuddin to the electorate by holding meetings in his favour.

Kalyan Singh has embraced SP. How do Muslims view this development?

We are ready to forgive him for his role in the Masjid demolition if he asks for forgiveness.

What is wrong if Muslims extend support to BJP?

This is not possible because they have treated Muslims as second rate citizens.What solution do you think is right for the Ayodhya dispute?The Court’s verdict would be final for us. We are ready to accept whatever the court concludes. And unlike the BJP, this is also what the Congress party also agrees to in principle.

But during Rajiv Gandhi’s time, the Congress government had bypassed an SC judgment in the Shah Bano case, to make a law as per the wishes of the Muslims. How do you react?

The Ayodhya dispute is different to Shah Bano case, in the sense that in the former, people of two religions are involved, while in the latter, it was not the case.

How do Muslims view Afzal Guru case?

The apex court has already given its verdict, while the clemency petition is pending with the President of India. Whatever be the outcome, I don’t think Muslims would have any problem.

India is said to be a secular country, but why do only Muslims get Haj subsidy? Your comments.

Mecca being outside India, most Muslims are not financially able to visit the holy place. Therefore, there is nothing wrong if the government subsidises their fares. The same should also be implemented for pilgrimages to Kailash Mansarovar (Chinese control), Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) for Hindus and Sikhs, respectively.
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