Shahi Imam's decision a patriotic one in right direction: Congress

Jammu and Kashmir minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir today said Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmad Bukhari's decision to support his Congress party was "a patriotic one and in right direction at the right time".

"We appreciate and support the statement of Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid appealing to Muslims to support Congress in the Lok Sabha elections," Mir said at a rally here today.

He described the Shahi Imam's decision as "a patriotic one and in right direction at the right time". He said that Hindu, Muslim, Sikh brotherhood is inevitable for national integration and need of the hour is to further strengthen this bond of true secularism.

Mir said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have always rejected communal forces and this time also they will defeat the "nefarious designs of communal and anti-national people" by inflicting crushing defeat on them.

Reiterating the commitment of the Congress-NC coalition government for maintaining unity in all the three regions of the state, Mir urged the people to foil the attempts of those flattening the secular ethos of the state.

Mir cautioned the voters against divisive politics and urged them to vote for NC-Congress coalition candidates.

"Congress has never enquired about caste, colour and creed of a person instead it worked equitably," he asserted.

He said due to pro-people initiatives taken by the Centre and state governments large number of people has been benefited with employment through MGNREGA. He asked the people to come out in large numbers to cast their votes in favour of NC-Congress alliance candidates.