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Bukhari supports Taleban, asks PM to shut up

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, on Friday supported the war cry given by the ruling Taleban in Afghanistan against the United States and its allies and asked Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to keep quiet on the issue.

"If any Islamic country or its ulema (clergy) announce jihad, it is obligatory for each and every Muslim in the world to support it morally and express it openly," he said in a surcharged speech delivered from the mosque before the Friday prayers.

Bukhari told the congregation that he had convened a meeting of the shoora (grand council) comprising the top Muslim clergy in the country on Saturday to "chalk out the future programme" in this regard.

Referring to the prime minister's statement that the US and its allies were fighting a war against terrorism and not Islam, the imam said, "It would be better if Mr Vajpayee keeps his mouth shut. We very well know his secular credentials."

Undeterred by the criticism of his recent anti-US pronouncements, Bukhari reiterated his tough posture against the impending US action. "If America attacks Afghanistan, then Muslims throughout the world will consider it an attack on Islam," he said.

The cleric said he was making the announcement of support to the Taleban's jihad with full responsibility and no "earthly power" could compel him to change his stand.

UNI

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