Muslim Clerics Support Ajmer Dargah Chief's Proposal to Ban Beef, But With Caution

New Delhi: Hours after spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah said slaughter of bovine animals and sale of beef should be banned across the country to promote communal harmony, several clerics have supported his idea but with skepticism.Also Read: Ajmer Dargah Chief Gives up Beef, Calls for Nation-wide Cow Slaughter Ban

Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Monday had said he and his family members will stop eating beef and appealed all Muslims to stay away from slaughter of bovine animals.

Speaking to News18, the Naib Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Maulana Mohammed Moazzam Ahmed said, “We are Indians and we need to make this change in our life for our Hindu brothers and sisters.”

However, Ahmed was quick to point out that a few politicians were raking up the beef issue for votes.

“Recently, in Kerala, a BJP candidate promised ‘quality beef’ to the voters if he is elected... at the expense of Muslims, they are cashing in on votes.”

The chairman of the Imam Council of India, Maulana Masood Ul Hassan Qasmi said while he supports the Ajmer Dargah chief’s views, it’s not just Muslims who consume beef.

“We stopped eating beef almost 30 years ago when Darul-Uloom-Deoband had issued a fatwa stating that Muslims should not eat beef to respect the sentiments of the Hindus,” said Qasmi.

Qasmi was critical of the Ajmer Dargah Chief for “portraying” that only Muslims consume beef. “Who will speak about the Dalits and many others who consume beef? Look at the BJP leaders of Nagaland and other places who have promised that beef ban will never be implemented in those parts,” he said.

Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri, president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said barring a few states cow slaughter was already banned across India. “But it’s bizarre to ban slaughter of all bovine species, including buffalo. For us alcohol is prohibited… should we demand alcohol ban across India?” Umri asked.

Mehmood Madani, general secretary, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said beef was not the only issue causing communal tension. “To achieve the target that the Sufi saint wishes to achieve, there has to be reform in the way people think. However, it’s true that the issue of beef is used by some people to instigate violence. If slaughter of bovine species is banned, it could be resolved to certain extent,” said Madani.