FIR ordered against Jama Masjid imam for Modi snub

A Jaipur court on Tuesday ordered police to register an FIR against Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi, following a complaint accusing him of trying to damage religious harmony by inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but not Narendra Modi to his son’s investiture ceremony

A Jaipur court on Tuesday ordered police to register an FIR against Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi, following a complaint accusing him of trying to damage religious harmony by inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but not Narendra Modi to his son’s investiture ceremony.

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The court asked the police to investigate and submit a report after Jaipur resident Rafeek Khan filed a criminal complaint against the Shahi Imam, accusing him of “deliberately ignoring” Prime Minister Modi while sending out invitations for the November 22 event.

According to the complainant, the Shahi Imam cannot disregard Modi because the chair he occupies calls for an invite to the “dastarbandi”, the ceremony in which his 19-year-old son Syed Shaban Bukhari will be anointed as the Naib Imam, or deputy Imam, of Jama Masjid. Bukhari told HT he wasn’t aware of the court order and called the complaint a publicity stunt. “It’s a democracy. People can do what they want. It is being done for publicity,” he said.

“There is no question of damage to national integrity. I am not against any religion or its followers. In fact, I want our country to move forward and harmony should be preserved. But for some time now, there have been attempts to divide Hindus and Muslims which is not acceptable,” he added.

The Shahi Imam had said kast month it was within his rights to choose whom he wants to send invitations for the function.