New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday rejected former Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari’s offer of support for the Delhi Assembly polls.
“AAP wants to make it clear that our party has nothing to do with Syed Ahmed Bukhari. AAP was formed to eradicate communal politics, only Imam Bukhari would know why he made such a statement,” said party leader Ashutosh.
Another AAP leader Sanjay Singh recalled that Bukhari had invited Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for his son’s anointment as the shahi imam of Jama Majid in November last year.
“Bukhari had supported different parties at different times, he invited Prime Minister of Pakistan and not the Indian Prime Minister for his son’s dastarbandi. AAP doesn’t support the ideology of Imam Bukhari, we don’t need their support,” said Singh.
Bukhari had earlier in the day appealed to Muslims to support the AAP in Saturday’s assembly polls to help form a secular government in Delhi.
The religious leader had endorsed the Congress during last year’s Lok Sabha polls, which saw the party being routed after 10 years in power.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is optimistic about forming the government in Delhi, is believed to be in a direct fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party this time.
It has also found support from the All India Imam Association (AIIA), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat.
A total of 673 candidates are in the fray for the 70-member Delhi Assembly which goes to polls on Saturday. The results will be declared on February 10.
(With inputs from ANI)