Thaindian News

Lucknow, Sep 23 (IANS) Islamic clerics and Hindu priests joined hands to observe a day’s fast here Friday to seek “divine retribution” for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the alleged state-sponsored killing of Muslims during the 2002 riots.

Responding to the call given by leading Shia cleric and scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawaad, several Hindu sadhus joined him in the day-long ‘roza’ cum ‘upwas’ (fast) at Lucknow’s famous Asafi Imambara, where a formal ‘iftar’ (breaking of fast) was also arranged later in the evening.

Leading the Friday ‘namaz’ at the Imambara Mosque, Maulana Jawaad also prayed for “punishment to Modi”.

He told reporters that “both Muslims and Hindus have unitedly offered prayers for Modi’s divine retribution for the massacre of innocent Muslims in Gujarat”.

Terming Modi as a “tyrant”, he said: “We are confident that even if he manages to get reprieve from the courts, God will answer our prayers by awarding the severest of punishment to Modi.”

Swami Agnivesh, who also participated, flayed Modi for what he termed as “a huge drama in Ahmedabad”.

“I have come to know that Modi paid only Re.1 a day as rent for the venue of his much hyped fast in Ahmedabad when the building rent is Rs.5 lakh per day… that itself is blatant misuse of authority which reflects his psyche.”

“Everyone can see his real political objective behind the drama - Modi’s design is to become prime minister, but let me tell you that his dream will remain unfulfilled as God almighty will definitely punish him for his unpardonable crimes.”

Several other locally prominent Islamic clerics as well as Hindu priests participated in the fast, which was the first of its kind in the state capital here.