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India’s Vajpayee Unveiled
by Ayub Khan
WASHINGTON (IslamOnline) - Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday, just days after stating that a temple must be constructed on the site of the destroyed Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, is now on defensive claiming his words were twisted out of context by his adversaries.
Addressing reporters at a press conference in New Delhi, Vajpayee said, “I had meant only to answer a question on the opposition demand for the resignation of the ministers, but you are so skilled, you made me say many other things.”
In response to a question regarding his coalition partners being upset over the recent destruction of an Islamic Seminary in Rae Bareli town, he said, “They have not said anything to me. But I want a meeting of the NDA [National Democratic Alliance]; the date has been left to the convener [Defence Minister George Fernandes].”
The Islamic Seminary in Rae Bareli, a two-decade-old madrassa (religious school), was destroyed by Hindu miscreants who believed Muslims were trying to convert it into a full-fledged mosque. Many opposition leaders claimed this incident was in direct response to Vajpayee’s statements concerning the Babri Masjid.
Meanwhile, Muslim leaders have also severely criticized Vajpayee’s statements.
The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid announced that Muslim leaders have decided to boycott Iftar (breaking fast) parties hosted by Vajpayee and his cabinet members. The Shahi Imam said, “By making such a statement, the PM has exposed his and [the] BJP's intolerance."
He said that such a statement could only be made by a “narrow-minded, communal and fascist” Hindu.
Speaking to a massive congregation of Muslims in Hyderabad, state legislator Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi said that the true face of Vajpayee was finally revealed.
Owaisi dismissed the option that Muslims construct the Babri Masjid elsewhere and proclaimed that there is a burning desire in every Muslim’s heart to hear the Azan (prayer call) from where it stood before its demolition. He said that Indian Muslims would fight until the last one of them is alive to reclaim what rightfully belongs to them.
TDP, the senior coalition member of Vajpayee's government, expressed shock at his statements concerning Babri Masjid affair and said that any deviation from the Common Minimum Agenda of the NDA will be taken "very seriously".
TDP President C. Naidu said that the Prime Minister’s statements are causing confusion and asked for clarification before Monday.
Karunanidhi, president of DMK, also a coalition partner, complained about Vajapyee’s statements as well, saying, “The Ayodhya issue, uniform civil code and deletion of the Constitution's Article 370 have not found place in the NDA's agenda. Therefore, raising fresh issues now cannot be accepted.''
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) demanded the immediate resignation of Vajpayee for his “blatantly fascist” statement on the Ayodhya issue. Its general secretary, Tariq Anwar, said, "It is unbecoming of the Prime Minister to misuse his official position to comment on the issue, which is sub-judice and also intended to subvert the process of law and judiciary and against the oath he took to maintain and honor the constitution and its functioning as the PM."
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