New Delhi:
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's statement that some Muslim youths from communal riot-hit Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh were in touch with Pakistan's intelligence agency has been slammed by prominent clerics of the community as "most unfortunate".
Maulana Saif Abbas Naqvi, a Shia cleric, said such statements not only painted the Muslim community in bad light but also strengthened communal forces. He said these were "grave insinuations" against millions of peace loving and patriotic Muslims in the country.
He also alleged that instead of understanding the plight and pain of the communal riot victims, the Gandhi scion was playing politics with them.
Shahar Qazi, Maulana Abul Irfan Miyan Farangi Mahali, called Rahul Gandhi's comment "most unfortunate" and demanded an immediate and unconditional apology from the Congress leader.
"It does not behove leaders of a national party like the Congress to make such cheap and hurtful statements against the Muslims...we are patriotic and would do anything for India" he said in a statement.
Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, senior vice-president of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, said anyone who cast aspersions on the integrity and loyalty of the minority community was doing great disservice to the country.
At an election rally in Indore on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi had made a sensational claim that singed by the riots and killings in Muzaffarnagar district of the state, many Muslim youth were in touch with Pakistan's intelligence agency. The communal clashes last month left 62 dead and 43,000 homeless.
