Accusing Congress of "conspiring" with BJP to demolish Babri masjid, Naib Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari told the Friday prayer congregation at the mosque, "Tum harane wali taqat bano (you become the force that defeats)". He said he was making the appeal to the Muslims not to vote in favour of the Congress on behalf of his father Imam Bukhari.

He said they should vote for Muslim candidates even if it "helped victory to other parties". For Chandni Chowk, Imam's `fatwa' went in favour of Sohaib Iqbal of fledgling Janata Dal (S) for East Delhi, they should vote for any Muslim candidate. Two Muslim candidates, including Mohd Nahid of BSP, are in the fray from East Delhi. He wondered how Congress could hope that "we will forgive and forget it" for the demolition of Babri mosque inAyodhya.

He criticised Rajiv Gandhi for allowing opening the gate of Babri masjid during Arun Nehru's tenure as internal security minister. "Nehru has now joined BJP. PR Kumaramangalam, a key Congress leader to negotiate on Babri masjid issue, has gone in BJP lap," he said adding "there could be many more RSS elements in the Congress even today".

"Congress has ruled for over 45 years since Independence, but what they have given us. Their only contribution has been adding to Muslims unemployment and poverty," he said in his 40-minute speech.

Naib imam criticised Sonia Gandhi for being "stubborn" on her insistence for single party government after the fall of Vajpayee government.

He said in its list of over 200 candidates released so far, the Congress has fielded only nine Muslim candidates all over the country. He also dismissed Congress manifesto as mere "kora kagaj (blank papers) for Muslims".

Vijay Goel flays `fatwa'

BJP candidate from Chandni Chowk Vijay Goel on Friday criticised the`fatwa' issued by Naib Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bhukhari urging Muslim voters to support Shoib Iqbal of Janata Dal (S). "I have already filed a written complaint to the Election Commission to disenfranchise the Naib Imam in the elections," Goel told reporters. He also demanded cancellation of Iqbal's candidature saying "he (Iqbal) is trying to create a communal wedge in the constituency."