The Coimbatore District United Jama-ath has clarified its stand on the Lok Sabha election stating that it was apolitical organisation. The Jama-ath’s president, A.R. Basheer Ahmad, told reporters on Monday that the organisation was forced to issue the clarification after the people in charge of the election machinery of the AIADMK went about spreading canards that it supported the BJP.
UnwarrantedThe unwarranted campaign by the AIADMK has hurt the sentiments of the members of the Jama-ath. Mr. Ahmad said what had happened was that when the BJP candidate for the Coimbatore Parliamentary constituency, C.P. Radhakrishnan, was seeking votes, the Jama-ath members welcomed and interacted with him. It was a normal custom of the Jama-ath to welcome candidates, irrespective of their affiliation. It was in this context that the Jama-ath’s general secretary A. Abdul Jabbar was seen next to Mr. Radhakrishnan, which was photographed by a popular Tamil daily.
To misconstrue what had happened and interpret the same saying that the Jama-ath had extended support to the BJP was also condemnable, he said.
A few days ago the AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa issued orders expelling Mr. Jabbar.
Mr. Ahmad said that to counter the AIADMK campaign, the Jama-ath was forced to issue a statement that it condemned the BJP manifesto as many of the promises mentioned therein were unacceptable.
Ram templeThe Jama-ath was opposed to the BJP’s move to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya, introduce the Uniform Civil Code and abrogate the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir as it could lead to communal tension.
