Muslim intellectuals have strongly objected to the calling of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as the father of the nation and the sage of the nation by the head of the National imam organization, Imam Umar Ahmed Ilyasi. They say that Imam Ilyasi may have called the father of the nation for his personal benefit to please the RSS chief, but his statement has insulted the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
He should apologize to the countrymen for his statement. Imam Umar Ahmed Ilyasi had met Mohan Bhagwat, who had come at his invitation, at the mosque at Kasturba Gandhi Marg in Delhi. However, later Imam Ilyasi retracted from his statement. He said, he did not intend to compare Mohan Bhagwat with Mahatma Gandhi.
Professor Mufti Zahid Ali Khan, Former chairman of Theology department, AMU said that Imam Umar Ilyasi's father Imam Jameel Ilyasi has also been close to the RSS. The imam would have made such a statement on the basis of his relationship. Power is worshipped, he bowed before that power.
Maulana Hassan Mohammad, Imam, AMU said that I do not understand this at all, the Imam behind whom there are countless numbers of people. He has come after the RSS chief for his own benefit, which is not a good thing.
Syed Nadir Abbas Naqvi, Secretary, Tanzimul Aza AMU said that the statement of Imam Umar Ahmed Ilyasi is supposed to please the RSS chief, but he forgot that he had insulted the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He should apologize for his statement.