Bukhari brother questions decision to support Cong

A day after Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi, extended support to the Congress, his brother questioned the decision at a press conference, asking what the ruling party has done for the Muslims.

A day after Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi, extended support to the Congress, his brother questioned the decision at a press conference, asking what the ruling party has done for the Muslims.

With communalism and secularism emerging as key issues in the run-up to the 2014 elections, Yahya Bukhari on Saturday said the Congress was 'ten steps' ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to news agency ANI.

Referring to the 2002 Gujarat riots under Narendra Modi's watch as chief minister, he said, "World knows what (BJP's PM nominee) Modiji did in Gujarat 12 years ago, but the Congress is ten steps ahead. It backstabs instead of attacking from the front."

The Shahi Imam on Friday had declared his support to the Congress party, saying it will "strengthen" secularism. He also announced support for Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, a past ally of the BJP, and Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal, a Congress ally.

Taking a dig at the decision, the Imam's brother said even the Congress had oppressed the Muslims.