NEW DELHI: A remark by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Rameshwar Sharma on Muslim men attending Garba events sparked a political row on Monday. Speaking at a public event, the Bhopal MLA said Muslims were welcome to attend Garba and added that they should be “welcomed” permanently.Sharma then said: “Why do Muslim boys alone want to come to Garba? Bring your sisters and daughters along from home too, our boys are also ready.”Later, standing by his statement, Sharma said that if “Muslims have developed so much love and attachment to Sanatan, then kindly, why do only their boys come? Come, bring your sisters and daughters, bring your mothers and fathers. And don’t come to watch Garba, but yourself perform the worship festival of the Goddess, play Garba, take Maa Jagdamba’s prasad…”The remarks drew criticism from AIMIM state president Mohsin Ali Khan who said that Rameshwar Sharma’s comments works “to divide the country”.” I want to tell Rameshwar Sharma ji that what he has said definitely works to divide this country. He should now take this up with his senior leaders in the Bharatiya Janata Party. He should talk to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. He should talk to Shahnawaz Hussain, who has promoted interfaith harmony…So the question arises today: Article 25 gives every citizen of this country the freedom to wear what they want, to follow whatever religion they choose, and the freedom to marry people of any religion,” he said.Condemning the statement, he said, “Inter-faith marriage is allowed. The Special Marriage Act provides the freedom to do so. Rameshwar Sharma ji needs to read the Constitution…Rameshwar Sharma ji only talks about attacking the Constitution, about appeasement, and about pitting two religions against each other.
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We condemn and oppose all those people who work to divide this country.”All India Imam Association president Maulana Sajid Rashidi in turn asked Sharma if he was ready to send his daughters and sisters to a mosque. This BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma, who said, ‘Bring your sisters and daughters’… I want to ask him, can you send your sisters and daughters to a mosque? If you can, then send them. We will give them good education, teach them good values, explain to them how to live in this world, how to prepare for the hereafter, and how to face Allah. We will teach them about Islam, about faith, and how to live a good life…,” he said.
