Fanning clergies

Sir — This refers to the editorial, “About ‘forced religiosity’” (April 21). Sonu Nigam, a noted Mumbai-based singer, took the pre-emptive step of tonsuring himself by a celebrated Muslim hair-stylist. He also called for a Press conference to clarify his tweet.

One wonders, of all the clerics in this country, why did Kolkata-based cleric, Syed Sha Atef Ali Al Quaderi, pronounce a fatwa against Sonu Nigam, offering an award of `10 lakh to anyone for shaving his headIJ Why did a Mumbai-based cleric not pronounce a fatwaIJ It is because clerics in West Bengal get protection from the pro-minority (read Muslim) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for vote-bank considerations. 

In the recent past, yet another Kolkata cleric had announced an award to cut Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s beard, shave his head and smear him with black ink. All these fatwas show that such clerics do not possess basic good manners and are, hence, uncivilised. One can imagine how they lead their folk in their prayers/sermons! 

The time has come for every one to pose a simple question to  the Muslims: Does Islam respect other religions, including HinduismIJ A truthful answer to this question, I firmly believe, will lead to communal harmony in India and promote world peace at large. Are Muslims prepared to answerIJ