Bihar minister Khursheed Ahmed, who chanted Jai Shri Ram, apologises
Bihar cabinet minister Khursheed Ahmed, against whom Imarat-Sharia issued a fatwa after he chanted Jai Shri Ram, has apologised.
In Short
- Khursheed Ahmed, against whom Imarat-Sharia issued a fatwa after he chanted Jai Shri Ram, has apologised.
- He said sorry to those who have been hurt.
- But, clarified that he had not abused any religion by saying Jai Shri Ram.
Newly appointed Bihar Minority Welfare Minister Khurshid alias Feroz Ahmed apologized to the Mufti of Imarat-e-Sharia, Sohail Ahmed Qasmi on Sunday after a fatwa was issued against him for chanting "Jai Shri Ram" in the Bihar Assembly after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar won the trust vote on Friday.
The Minister reached the office of Imarat-e-Sharia in the evening and regretted for his comments. He also read the Kalma-E-Shahadat in front of the Mufti which paved way for this return into the Muslim community once again
"I want to say sorry to those who have been hurt," Ahmed was quoted by news agency ANI, as saying.
Ahmed clarified that he had not abused any religion by saying Jai Shri Ram and added that first a human is born and then religion follows.
He further said, "Every person lives with his or her own beliefs and I did not abuse anyone. If anyone thought it was an abuse and would have come to me then I would have answered."
Talking about fatwa, Ahmed said, "God knows what my intention was behind chanting Jai Shri Ram and would chant the same slogan 100 times for the sake of Bihar and its development."
"Islam is my foundation but the Constitution of the country is also my foundation and I am unable to understand whether I should go with my religion or Constitution. I don't think I have done any wrong", said Khurshid Ahmed.
He further said that the Imarat-Sharia should have cleared the misconception around his intention before issuing the fatwa.
The JD(U) MLA from Sikati seat also said, Islam preached tolerance and brotherhood.
"Islam teaches us to love, not hate our brothers," he added.
However, Nitish is seen snubbing his Minister asking him to apologize.
"If you are unable to understand things then apologize for your comments as a controversy has been raised", said Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister.
It was after the chief minister pressured him to apologize for his "Jai Shri Ram" comments that the Minister fell in line and apologized after meeting the Mufti.
THE CLERIC SPEAKS
"The Minister has apologized for his un-Islamic comments after meeting the Mufti of Imarat-e-Sharia and also read the Kalma-E-Shahadat. After he read the Kalma-E-Sharia, he has again become a Muslim", read a press statement issued by Mufti Sohail Ahmed Qasmi's office.
The Mufti further asked the Minister to remarry his wife in presence of two witnesses and a Qazi as his marriage was terminated for chanting "Jai Shri Ram" comments.
Khursheed Ahmed was sworn in the Bihar cabinet on Saturday and has been assigned the Ministry of Minority Affairs and sugarcane development.
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