New Delhi: The Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Ahmed Bukhari changed his stance on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act Friday, speaking out against it before the Jumah prayers. At the same time, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad sat on the stairs of the mosque in protest against the law.
Only a month ago, Bukhari had defended the legislation, saying “it has nothing to do with Muslims”. But Friday, he remembered those killed in the anti-CAA violence in Uttar Pradesh.
“Innocent Muslim youth sacrificed their lives in Uttar Pradesh fighting against the CAA. Until when will Muslim youth keep sacrificing their lives?” Bukhari said in his address.
At least 25 people lost their lives in the violence that followed anti-CAA protests.
Bukhari further said it wasn’t any political party but the Muslim youth who were leading the fight against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“When a country’s youth take to the streets, it becomes impossible to control them. The government must engage with them before it is too late,” he added.
“Look at what happened in Iran. It is the youth of Iran which brought a revolution in that country.”
While Bukhari gave his sermon, Azad sat outside the mosque with a copy of the Constitution in hand. Azad, who was arrested 21 December for holding an anti-CAA protest at Jama Masjid the day before, was released on bail Thursday night.
The conditions for his bail were that he is allowed to move around anywhere in Delhi for the next 24 hours, provided he goes back to Saharanpur, his hometown, and stays there for the next four weeks.
Azad was welcomed at Jama Masjid with cheers and hugs by the crowd. Once the prayers got over, he read out the preamble of the Constitution.
Also read: Hundreds, including political leaders, hold CAA protest at Jama Masjid in Delhi
‘Modi says no NRC but Home Minister contradicts him’
In his sermon, Bukhari hit out at the Narendra Modi government for the confusion around the NRC. “One day, Home Minister Amit Shah says there will definitely be an NRC across the country. The next day, PM Modi says there will be no nationwide NRC. This is causing enormous anxiety in people,” Bukhari said.
He was referring to a speech by PM Modi at Ramlila Maidan on 22 December, where he said: “There are no talks about NRC at all.” This came in the backdrop of Shah talking about carrying out a nationwide NRC several times in the past.
“Even to date, people in remote villages don’t register the births of their newborns. How can the government expect people to produce documents from decades ago then?” Bukhari asked.
Bukhari also spoke about the violence that ensued in Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University.
“The students in these universities are facing the brunt of sticks and rods. That isn’t acceptable,” he said, adding that student representatives from the three universities should form a coordination committee.
“If such a coordination committee is formed, I am willing to write a letter to the PM, requesting him to speak to the committee. I ask the students also to indulge in a dialogue with the government,” he said.
Bukhari added the protests must remain peaceful, and also said he condemns whoever indulges in stone-pelting.
Crowd not too impressed with Bukhari’s sermon
This was Bukhari’s first sermon in a long time. He didn’t give a sermon on 20 December when Azad staged a dharna outside the mosque. The people at Jama Masjid, however, didn’t seem too impressed by it.
“Even now, he is trying to appear neutral when this isn’t the time for neutrality. He is asking students to only participate in peaceful protests, but the protests were never violent,” said Asad Raouf, a businessman who is a regular visitor to the mosque.
“He needs to use stronger words and not act like a BJP spokesperson. Everyone knows who committed the violence in JNU,” said Waleed Khan, a student.
Also read: Jama Masjid protesters chant ‘Hindustan zindabad’, Bhim Army chief gives police the slip