Muslim cleric warns Mamata Banerjee against ties with Anna Hazare

Kolkata: A day before Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s joint rally with Anna Hazare at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, a prominent city cleric has called for shunning the party’s ties with the social activist.

Shahi Imam of city’s Tipu Sultan Mosque Maulana Noor-Ur-Rahaman Barkarti, questioned Hazare’s secular credentials and warned Banerjee against sharing the dais with him.

“She will have to rethink whether it is appropriate for her to share dais with Anna Hazare. She will have to think about the signal which it will send to the Muslims of the state,” said Barkati who has supported Banerjee as a prime ministerial candidate.

“Hazare’s links with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) are no more hidden, so an alliance with him is certain to jeopardize the Muslim support which the Trinamool enjoys,” said Barkati.