'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' row: BJP asks Darul Uloom to refrain from issuing 'unwarranted' fatwas

New Delhi: Condemning the fatwa issued by leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday asked the organisation to refrain from issuing such 'unwarranted' fatwa.

"I completely disagree with this fatwa. I have absolutely no feelings that why Muslims should not chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. I think Darul Uloom is a very good organisation. They should refrain from issuing such fatwa. It is unwarranted. Islam does not restrict to these kinds of slogans. As per Islam, it is fully permitted that whenever you chant slogans for the pride of your nation. They should also prospect as to why Muslims should not praise their own nation," BJP leader Zafar Islam told ANI.

He further stated that the organisation should ensure that this kind of fatwa is not issued, adding that it should also understand to make distinction between worship and praising the nation.

"I appeal to the organisation to withdraw this fatwa and make people understand that these kinds of slogans are very much permitted under the Islamic law. People like Owaisi should not take undue advantage because they believe in hate speech, divisive politics. Somehow, I feel, Darul Uloom is becoming a victim of this kind of an approach which Owaisi has," he added.

Darul Uloom Deoband yesterday issued a fatwa against chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', saying that the slogan goes against the tenets of Islam.

"Bharat Mata, according to some Hindu sects, is a goddess and they worship her. For Muslims participating in worshiping a goddess would be un-Islamic, the fatwa said.

The fatwa added, "We love our country, but we do not worship it, Islam allows worshiping only one God."

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had stirred a hornet's nest by rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion that the young generation be taught patriotic slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' stating that he won't chant the slogan "even if a knife is put to his throat".

"I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do Bhagwat sahab?" Owaisi had said at a public rally in Latur.

Leaders of various political parties, including the BJP and Congress, have condemned Owaisi's stance.