HVK Archives: Advani for Shia-Sunni rapprochement
Advani for Shia-Sunni rapprochement - The Observer (New Delhi)
Shahid Abbas
()
April 28, 1998
Title: Advani for Shia-Sunni rapprochement
Author: Shahid Abbas
Publication: The Observer (New Delhi)
Date: April 28, 1998
The Union Home Minister L K Advani is showing keen interest in
bringing about a rapprochement between the Shia and Sunni sects
of the Muslim community in the wake of the decades-old
differences on the question of bringing out zadari processions
in Lucknow.
With the month of Moharrum likely to commence from the April 28,
the BJP leadership is working overtime to ensure that the two
communities shelve their differences amicably and give an
undertaking that no untoward incident would take place nor the
peace be disturbed when the processions were brought out.
A Shia-Sunni delegation called on Mr Advani recently at his North
Bloc office following which the Home Minister immediately rang up
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and asked him if the
zadari procession during the ensuing month of Moharrum could
be brought out amidst a peaceful environment.
Over two decades ago, the state administration had imposed a ban
on such processions after Shia sect were reported to have
frequently indulged in "tabara bazi" (disparaging remarks)
against the Sunni Khalifas and the Sunnis jargoning back with
similar utterances against the Shia Imams forcing the situation
to take an ugly turn and perpetually ending up in ugly brawls.
During the last tenure of Kalyan Singh in Uttar Pradesh, the
state unit of the BJP had come under tremendous pressure from the
Shia community after it had failed to keep up its election
promise to allow the "azadari" procession to be brought out in
Lucknow, should it come to power in the state.
Taking a lesson from the earlier discontent against it, the
party, when came to power again for the second time, immediately
intervened between the two sects and allowed an zadari
procession, marking the martyrdom of "Hazrat Ali," (the first
Imam of the Shia community) to be brought out during "Ramazan."
Encouraged by its success the BJP leadership took up the cudgels
to resolve the Moharrum problem.
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