Muslims do not feel insecure: Chief imam

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, August 11

Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, president of the All-India Imam Organisation (AIIO), today accused former Vice-President Hamid Ansari of misleading the country by claiming that “a sense of insecurity is creeping in among Muslims”.

Ilyasi told reporters on the sidelines of a function at a college, near here, that Ansari did not utter a single word for the implementation of the Sachar Committee report during his 10-year tenure in the country’s top constitutional office.

“Ansari has let down the Muslim community by making such an irresponsible statement. We condemn his statement,” he said.

“Ansari remained mute for his two full tenures during the previous government and never raised the issue of social, economic and educational uplift of Muslims, as recommended by the Sachar Committee. His sudden change of heart on the last day in office is viewed by Muslims with suspicion,” he said.

Ilyasi is known for issuing a fatwa early this year to make mainstream education compulsory for Muslim girls.