What fatwa? I was not there

P Chidambaram probably visited Deoband and addressed a Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) rally on Tuesday in the hope of mustering Muslim support for the government’s battle against terrorism. What he did not bargain for, however, was the controversy generated by a JUH resolution asking Muslims not to sing national song Vande Mataram.

The BJP was quick to attack the home minister, with party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accusing Chidambaram of providing legitimacy to the fatwa. The minister, however, claimed innocence. A statement issued by his office said he was not present at Deoband when the resolution was adopted. “The minister was at the JUH conference at Deoband on November 3 between 10 am and noon. No resolution was adopted in that period.

When he spoke, he was not aware of any resolution relating to Vande Mataram or women’s reservation and television.”

In response to Naqvi’s allegations, Chidambaram’s aides also pointed out that he was reading from a prepared text. The Congress, too, rushed to the aid of the minister, with party spokesman Shakeel Ahmad asserting, “He was not present when the resolution was adopted.”

The Congress said the BJP was unnecessarily raking up a two-year-old resolution to spoil its chances of reconciling with Muslims. Even the Samajwadi Party, normally critical of the government, came to the minister’s rescue.