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Bukhari advises Basu against Third Front

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

Delhi's Jama Masjid Imam, Syed Abdullah Bukhari has asked West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu not to align himself with advocates of the Third Front. The imam met Basu at Writers' Building early today.

Bukhari told reporters that he had advised Basu to stay away from the formation of a front mooted by V P Singh and H D Deve Gowda. "I told Basu that these people were no longer reliable among the Muslim community. The community has tested them and found them no better than earlier Congress regimes at the Centre. I suggested that the veteran Marxist leader not align with these leaders. By doing so, he will only cause immense harm to his tall stature and democracy in general," Bukhari remarked.

During his closed door meeting with Basu, Bukhari also demanded that the state government set up more graveyards and madrasas for the community.

The imam debunked charges that Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence was taking shelter in madrasas in north Bengal.

"How can one even think of denigrating religious places? Madrasas are where children are taught essential values of life and humanity. Even the mere consideration of their use as centres for encouraging subversive activities is un-Islamic and unethical. Such allegations are a ploy of fascist forces in the country to harass the community. Muslims have proved that they are as patriotic as any other Indians," he added.

Trinamul leaders also reportedly met Bukhari earlier today. Though the party leadership denied the report, political analysts view this as a counter move to woo Muslims ahead of the Calcutta civic elections, due later this month.

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