Faizabad rally: Lord Ram imam of Muslims also, BJP to Election Commission

FAIZABAD: The famous couplet by the great Urdu poet Allama Iqbal, "Hai Ram ke wajood pe Hindustan ko naaz, ahle nazar samajhte hain unko Imam-e-Hind (India is proud of Ram's being and wise people consider him the leader of India)", have put the Faizabad district administration in a fix.

In its reply to a show-cause notice on using Lord Ram's picture as a background on the stage from where Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Faizabad, the BJP has stated that the deity is not related to any religion or caste, but is a historical and cultural figure. It said Ram, Sita and Lakshman were mentioned in the original Indian constitution.

The Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to BJP's Faizabad candidate Lallu Singh for displaying the photograph of the controversial Ram temple alongside a large picture of Lord Ram in the backdrop of the stage from where Modi addressed a rally and invoked his name repeatedly.

The party also said no temple as shown in the picture exists. It was not a temple but an artist's conception representing the reflection of Indian culture. In many Muslim countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, Ram Leelas are performed with much fervour, the reply further said.

BJP has tried to establish that Lord Ram, if he is considered a Hindu God, should also be considered imam of India's Muslims. Talking to TOI, Faizabad RO and district magistrate Indraveer Singh Yadav said, "We are examining the reply of the BJP candidate and will take action accordingly."