A Muslim minister in the newly formed National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has landed in trouble after the Imarat-e-Sharia, socio-religious organisation of Muslims, slapped a ‘fatwa’ (decree) on him for chanting “Jai Shri Ram”.

Khushid Ahmad, the Janata Dal-United minister for minority affairs and sugar cane development, chanted the slogans in praise of a Hindu deity in the portico of the Bihar assembly a couple of days ago while talking to the media. He also had showed the saffron safety band tied around his wrist to the media, saying he offered prayers at a Hindu temple for the break-up in the erstwhile Grand Alliance [and to] save the state from Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son, Tejashwi Yadav.

Taking the matter seriously, the Imarat-e-Sharia has now slapped a fatwa on the minister.

“By chanting Jai Sri Ram, he has disassociated with the Islam. His marriage also stands cancelled now,” Mufti Supaul Ahmad Qasam of Imarat-e-Sharia, who issued the fatwa, told the media on Sunday.

The minister, however, strongly opposed this fatwa saying he would chant this slogans 100th times for the sake of Bihar and development.

“Islam teaches us to love, not to hate the brothers. I’m not afraid of this fatwa and will chant it 100th times for the welfare of Bihar,” the lone Muslim face in the Kumar-led NDA Government said. “God knows what my intention was behind chanting Jai Sri Ram,” he added.

The NDA has come out in strong support of the minister. “Those issuing the fatwa must read the history of India. The slogan was not intended to hurt the sentiments of anyone but to make people aware about the culture of the country,” said JD-U leader Neeraj Kumar.

The BJP also came out in support of the minister. “The government is strongly with Ahmad. Issuing fatwa is a violation of the basic principles of the Indian constitution,” said BJP minister Mangal Pandey.