TMC MP Nusrat Jahan performing puja is anti-Islamic: Mufti Asad Kasmi

Miffed over TMC MP Nusrat Jahan performing Durga puja, an Islamic cleric in Uttar Pradesh on Monday slammed Nusrat stressing that her action is "anti-Islamic". Accusing Nusrat of bringing disrepute to Islam, Mufti Asad Kasmi suggested the TMC lawmakers to change her name.

"Islam does not allow its followers to pray before any other God other than the almighty Allah. Nusrat Jahan has performed puja which is totally anti-Islamic. She is not practising Islam. She even married a non-Muslim. Since she does not believe in Islam, she should change her name. Why is she insulting Islam?" Mufti Kazmi, vice-president of Itehaad Ulema-e-Hind, said.

Mufti Kazmi remarked that Islam does not need those who have Muslim name but their actions defame the religion. "The Islam does not need any person who bears an Islamic name but actually defames the Islam," he noted.

Nusrat said that she offered prayers to Goddess Durga in order to promote religious harmony. "I think I have my own way of portraying harmony towards all religions. Born and brought up in Bengal, I feel I am doing right by following culture and tradition. Here, we celebrate all the religious festivities," she said.

It may be recalled that Nusrat was slammed by Islamic clerics in June when she tied the knot with a non-Muslim businessman, Nikhil Jain. Her husband, however, said that Nusrat's decision to offer puja is actually a positive message for India.