Son’s investiture: Shahi Imam invites Nawaz to succession event, snubs Modi

Urges Indian PM to apologise for the 2002 Gujarat riots

NEW DEHLI: The Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, on Thursday invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his son’s anointment, but excluded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the guest list.

Interestingly, the Shahi Imam of India’s largest mosque, has sent out invitations to several local and foreign political leaders, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son, Rahul but Modi’s name is missing from the list of 1,000 guests due to attend the investiture ceremony scheduled for November 22.

Defending his decision, Bukhari said Indian Muslims have still not been able to relate themselves with PM Modi, who has been accused of playing a role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

“Modi should first tender an apology for the massacre,”
he said.

“The prime minister has not done anything for Indian Muslims even after coming to power. Indian Muslims have not forgiven him for the 2002 Gujarat riots,” the imam said, referring to the 2002 communal clashes in Gujarat in which around 1,000 Muslims were killed.

The move has left the Indian government in disarray over how to handle the controversial invitation extended by Bukhari to Premier Nawaz.

The ceremony, to be held in Jama Masjid, will see 19-year-old Syed Shaban Bukhari taking over as the junior Imam in line to succeed his father.

From nearly 400 years, Imamat of the Jama Masjid has been continuing in the same family for generations.

The imam wields considerable influence in the Indian political sphere. Bukhari’s endorsement of Congress in the run-up to the 2014 general elections had triggered criticism against the party.

The Imam’s list of invitees also includes West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Railways minister Mukul Roy, Samajwadi Party head Mulayam Singh Yadav, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

If Nawaz accepts the invitation, it could be a private visit like the one made by former president Asif Ali Zardari, who came to India ostensibly on a pilgrimage but also called on then prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Earlier, on May 27 during his visit to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, Nawaz also paid a visit to the historic mosque and met Bukhari.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2014.