Jamat-e-Islami Hind on Friday backed the fatwa issued by the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband against chanting of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and claimed that "attempts" to connect incantation of the slogan with patriotism for the country was an "extremely wrong" thing.
Terming the fatwa as "correct", President of the outfit and Islamic scholar, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri said that it is "not permissible" for Muslims to chant the slogan.
"There are also chants of Bharat Ki Jai which is accepted by all and there is no dispute about it but saying "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" is not permissible since its against the religion of Muslims."
Umri also viewed that attempts to connect the chanting of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" slogan with patriotism for the country was an "extremely wrong" thing.
The office bearers of the Islamic organisation also charged that the debate over nationalism is being "raked up" by communal and fascist forces to polarise the society and damage the unity and integrity of the country.
Referring to the upcoming assembly elections in five states, JIH secretary Mohammad Ahmad said that the organisation has decided to support the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front candidates in Assam.
"We are supporting Congress as a strategy just to stop fascist forces to coming to power in the state. We are supporting 99 Congress and 14 AIUDF candidates," he said.
