The demand to change the Ballygunge assembly candidate of Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the by election gained ground after influential Muslim clerics questioned Mamata Banerjee’s decision to field Babul Supriyo from the seat. The clerics pointed out that the seat was vacated due to the demise of Subrata Mukherjee, whom they referred to as “one of the most trusted secular leaders” of the state.
Mohammed Yahya Khan, chief of the Bengal Imams' Association, said that the imams will not accept the candidature of Supriyo, who, according to them, orchestrated riots in Asansol in 2018 during which an imam's son was brutally killed.
Khan, on Wednesday, met with prominent Muslim TMC leader Firhad Hakim, cabinet minister and Kolkata Mayor, and apprised him about the association’s reservation. “His hand is stained with blood. A young son of Imdadulla Rashidi, imam of Asansol, was brutally killed on the day of Ram Navami few years back. Instead of punishing him you inducted him into your party and now want to make him MLA. We will oppose it,” a source quoted Yahim as telling Hakim. Hakim also reportedly said that he would inform Mamata about his reservation.
“But party’s decision is final. Once that has been taken, I don’t foresee any change,” said the minister.
Khan said they would wait for a few days to see if the party fields a different candidate.
“If by then the candidate is not changed we will support another candidate or an independent candidate. I am totally at loss thinking how Babul Surpiyo could replace a secular leader like Subrata Mukherjee,” said Khan.
CPI(M) has fielded Saira Halim, wife of Marxist leader and doctor Fuad Halim, from the seat. Ballygunge constituency has around 40 per cent Muslim population.
Memories of 2018 riot are still fresh and people remember how ashidi prevented a huge communal riot by asking his followers not to take revenge for his son’s murder. Rashidi had said, “If any Hindu is killed, I will leave Asansol forever.”
Interestingly Asansol Lok Sabha is also going to polls as Supriyo had resigned after he was denied a berth in Modi's cabinet. The Imams' Association is also upset about TMC fielding another BJP turncoat in Asansol—Shatrughan Sinha. The association said Sinha had defended the demolition of Babri Masjid.
Rashidi does not want to get involved into politics. “I have sacrificed my one son at the alter of peace. Allah wished that. I am least bothered who is their candidate and who is not,” he said.
Supriyo was not available for comment. The ball is now in Mamata's court as Muslims put pressure on her. The BJP is yet to disclose its candidature in both these seats.
