The BJP’s aggressive election campaign has come as a shot in the arm for political parties vying for a greater space in the lower House as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has roped in Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid, Kolkata to woo Muslims of Jharkhand much like the way the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid asked the Muslim minorities to vote for Congress in the General Election.
Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid, Maulana NR Barkati who has been holding a series of meetings with Muslim intelligentsia of the city today urged the Muslim community of Jharkhand to support TMC and give it “one opportunity”. Interestingly, the Maulana do not see Imams’ jumping the party bandwagon as “communalization of votes”. “This is not communalization of votes by any means,” said Barkati adding “People have seen Congress and the BJP so I would urge them to given one opportunity to TMC”.
However, for the Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid, asking Muslims to vote for TMC is akin to saving “secularism” in the country and is in agreement with the tenets of democracy. The Imam camouflaged appeal to vote under the garb of humanity and appeared confused at times about the party to ask vote for.