New Delhi, Dec 18: Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari has called on the people of the country to exercise restraint and keep their emotions under control while demonstrating.
"To protest is the democratic right of the people of India. No one can stop us from doing so. However, it is important that it is controlled. Keeping our emotions in control is the most important part," he said while addressing a gathering here on Tuesday.
Bukhari urged the people, including the youth, to not be provoked by nefarious elements.
He also explained the difference between the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), saying they are two different things.
"The CAA is for those people who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014. They will be granted citizenship and it will not affect the Muslims living in India. The Muslim refugees who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will not get Indian citizenship. It has nothing to do with the Muslims living in India," Bukhari said.
"While the CAA has become a law, NRC has been only announced. It has not become a law yet," he further said.
His comments came in the backdrop of an anti-CAA protest which turned violent in northeast Delhi's Seelampur area, forcing police to use tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, who torched two buses on Tuesday.
The police also stopped vehicular movement on the road, which connects Seelampur with Jafrabad, due to the demonstration.
The protest in Seelampur came days after the clashes between police and protesters in Jamia Millia Islamia over the citizenship law.
The CAA grants citizenship to non-Muslims of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who fled religious persecution and arrived in India until December 31, 2014.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have appealed to the people to maintain peace and tranquillity.
Both the leaders have been attacking the party leadership over its pro-CAA stand.
Comments
Shahi Imam sahab if you can not motivate Muslims then do not demotivate them..... please keep quite as usual you guys did,
Shahi Iman should know that itention of bjp + sangh parivar behind CAA is not yet disclosed. They are trying to dig the basement of muslims keeping the buiding in tight for the time being. None should be optimistic that nothing will happen. Their next target is to implement NRC and harass muslims. CAA is just a start up. Shahi Iman should support the agitators who are fighting agaisnt CAA + NRC. Its strange that he did not condemn brutuality of delhi police on jamia students. I dont know why the so called muslim leaders are not showing any interest in the agitation and instead of supporting they students they are asking them to refrain. I think they are watching for water cross our head. Shahi Iman sahab, din me khwab dekhna bhool jawo. BJP hamari qabr khod rahe hain aur aap leaders kah rahe hain ke musalmanon ko ghabrane ki zaroorat nahin. Sharm aati hai musalmano ke leaders par jo ab bhi so rahe hain.
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