New Delhi

It happened like this.

Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) sought support of Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari for their party in Delhi assembly elections.

On eve of polling, Jama Masjid Shai Imam today appealed to Muslims to vote for AAP.

As soon as the news spread, there were angry reactions against Bukhari – AAP combo.

Citing danger of losing votes of mainstream chunk of voters, AAP immediately issued a statement that it doesn’t want Bukhari’s support.

Reacting to this Bukhari aid said AAP had approached them for support and therefore they had declared it.

On the eve of Delhi polls, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari today appealed to Muslims to vote for AAP citing “grave threat” to the community from communal forces but the party promptly rejected the support saying it was against any type of caste and communal politics.

In his appeal, Bukhari urged the people to help AAP to form an “honest and secular” government in Delhi while accusing BJP of extending support to elements who are trying to divide the society.

“The country is facing the grave dangers of communalism and Muslims are the target of communal forces,” Bukhari said in a statement while asking people to support AAP to protect the country from divisive forces.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the party does not require support of Bukhari as it was against any type of “caste and communal politics”.

“AAP doesn’t support the ideology of Imam Bukhari. We don’t need his support,” Singh said.

Bukhari said, “To oppose the communal forces and curb their further advance and to protect the sanctity and security of the Constitution of the country, we shall have to ponder over the measures required to ensure that the secular fabric of the nation remains intact.”

He said survival of Muslims was dependent on the survival of secularism in India while urging the people to help AAP to form an honest and secular government in Delhi.

BJP reacts to Fatva

© With inputs from agency