A fatwa issued by Muslim religious clerics on Monday asking the Muslims not to vote for Shabana Khatoon, daughter for Vijayawada (West) MLA Jaleel Khan, triggered commotion in political circles.
Reason: Shabana Khatoon does not wear burkha while entering into electoral battle.
According to the fatwa issued by Maulana Abdul Qadir Razvi, no Muslim woman should enter politics without wearing the burkha. So, no Muslims should cast their votes in favour of that woman.
Since Shabana is campaigning without wearing the Burkha, Muslims would not vote for her, says the fatwa.
It was a sort of tit-for-tat for Jaleel Khan, who had won as an MLA on YSR Congress party ticket and later defected to the Telugu Desam Party.
During 2009 elections, Jaleel Khan complained against Congress candidate and former Mayor of Vijayawada Mallika Begum, who had contested from Vijayawada (Central), on a similar ground.
In 2009, Jaleel Khan had expected the Congress party ticket but was denied the same. Enraged at this, he complained to the Muslim religious leaders against Mallika Begum stating that she was contesting the elections without wearing a Burkha.
And they had issued a fatwa against her stating not to contest in the elections and no Muslims should voter her. With this reason, she lost the election.
Now the same situation has come for Jaleel Khan’s daughter. The MLA has taken a U-turn now and is saying that the situation has changed compared to 2009.
“My daughter will continue the fight in the elections despite fatwa,” he said.
Malika Begum said the rules which were applicable to her will also be applicable to Khan's daughter and that's the reason why she has complained to religious leaders.