Scholars protest 'misuse' of religious gathering for political purposes

SRINAGAR: Unruly scenes were witnessed at what was supposed to be a religious conference here after a politician allegedly sought support for BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Several ' Ulema' (Islamic scholars) walked out of the local hotel at Lal Chowk to protest against what they called misuse of a religious gathering for political purposes.

They alleged that a politician claiming to be from BJP asked them to sermonise people to vote for his party and boycott their rivals during the elections.

"We had been told a senior scholar would participate in the conference which was organised by Jamiat-e-Ulmayi Hind, but when we reached the hotel, we found that the conference was actually organised by 'Jamat-e-Ulema Hind', which is a different organisation and perhaps has links with the BJP," a participating preacher, Ashiq Hussain, said.

Hussain said after a 'Molvi' named Suhaib-ur Rehman Dehelvi of Daryaganj finished his sermon, another person spoke and asked the participants to support the BJP.

The Ulemas then held a protest in Lal Chowk against using religion in political affairs.

Meanwhile, the BJP disassociated itself from the event, saying the party had no information about any such conference.

"BJP has nothing to do with any such programme. We have no information or connection about this conference," BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir said.

Jehangir said BJP was a political party which does not believe in mixing religion with politics.

"We are a political party and we do not believe in mixing religion with politics," he said.