Thursday brought a scathing VHP riposte to AIMIM’s entreaty for shuttering alcohol vendors during Ramadan, with national spokesperson Vinod Bansal invoking heavenly imagery to question earthly demands. The volley has polarized opinions across party lines.
‘First, AIMIM must square abstemious life with jannat’s wine streams and 72 houris,’ Bansal asserted to IANS. ‘They propel Muslim lads toward terror via jihad for paradise perks. Want alcohol there? Then why ban it here—decide!’
On Maharashtra emulating Telangana’s Ramadan holidays for Muslim workers, Bansal warned of schisms. ‘Communal pandering divides India. Impossible in Maharashtra. Abu Azmi’s pitch reeks of his terror-papa credentials—pause and reflect.’
He skewered Maulana Arshad Madani’s ‘ghar wapsi’ tirade: ‘Inspire ethical paths, shun violence. Fearless Islam? Then why panic over homecoming?’
VHP’s offensive frames the issue as hypocrisy versus uniformity, challenging selective piety. AIMIM sees it as faith respect, but Bansal spotlights radicalization risks. With Telangana’s precedent, other states face similar calls. This spat illuminates fault lines in India’s multicultural polity, where religious observance meets constitutional equality. Outcomes could influence future policy and alliances.