Abbas Siddiqui
Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui is an Indian Islamic scholar, theologian and politician who established the Indian Secular Front in 2021. He is a cleric of the Furfura Sharif Shrine in Hooghly, West Bengal[1] and is the scion of the Siddiqui family, which is the founder and custodian of the Furfura Sharif.[2][3]
Abbas Siddiqui | |
|---|---|
| আব্বাস সিদ্দিকী | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Furfura Sharif, West Bengal, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Indian Secular Front |
| Relatives | Nawsad Siddique (brother) |
| Alma mater | Furfura Fatehia Senior Madrasah |
| Occupation |
|
Early lifeEdit
Abbas Siddiqui was born to Pirzada Ali Akbar Siddiqui. He is the great-grandson of Abu Bakr Siddiqui who established the Silsila-e-Furfura (Order of Furfura Sharif) and is the nephew of Toha Siddiqui.[4]
Siddiqui has studied Islamic Theology from Furfura Fatehia Senior Madrasah.
Work—Silsila Destroy the chain
Political careerEdit
On 21 January 2021 he formed his party Indian Secular Front which will be contesting in the 2021 West Bengal Elections. Initially they planned to join hands with AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.[5] However, that plan faltered[6] and instead he joined hands with the Left Front (comprising various communist parties) and the Congress to form the Sanjukta Morcha. His party Indian Secular Front contested on a borrowed symbol from Rashtriya Secular Majlis Party (RSMP) Which is a Bihar-based party.
ControversiesEdit
Siddiqui has been in a number of controversies. In the aftermath of the 2020 Delhi riots he was heard asking for a "virus" that would "kill 10–500 million people"[7] He referred to MP Nusrat Jahan as the "one who earns by showing her body" and that she should be "tied to a tree and beaten up". He has described Kolkata's mayor and state urban development minister Firhad Hakim as an "infidel and apostate" for participating in the Durga Puja despite being a Muslim.[8] He has also come out in support of the man who beheaded French school-teacher Samuel Paty.
In response to these comments; he has replied in an interview[9] that these comments should be ignored because "That Abbas was of a different ideology, leave him be."[10]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ "Explained: Spotlight on a Muslim cleric, election pointers in West Bengal". The Indian Express. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ↑ "Popular Muslim cleric Abbas Siddiqui floats new political party in Bengal". Hindustan Times. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ Roy, Rajat (29 March 2021). "Abbas Siddiqui's dilemma—bring Muslims from TMC and still be secular enough for Left-Congress". ThePrint. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ "Why it is Wrong and Unfair to Label Abbas Siddiqui as Communal". newsclick.in. 4 March 2021.
- ↑ "Owaisi Joining Hands with Abbas Siddiqui Could be a Red Flag for Mamata Banerjee". The Wire. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ Chowdhuri, Pranmoy Brahmachary & Rajib (28 March 2021). "Asaduddin Owaisi withdraws support to Peerzada Abbas Siddiqui in West Bengal polls". The Asian Age. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ Daniyal, Shoaib. "Abbas Siddiqui might struggle against TMC – but represents a churn amongst Bengali Muslims". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ↑ "Explained | What Does Controversial Cleric Abbas Siddiqui's Poll Plunge Mean For Bengal?". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ↑ মুখোমুখি (১৩.০৩.২১) ভোট কেটে আসলে আপনি বিজেপির সুবিধা করবেন? মুখোমুখি পীরজাদা আব্বাস সিদ্দিকি (in Bengali), retrieved 27 April 2021
- ↑ Daniyal, Shoaib. "Abbas Siddiqui might struggle against TMC – but represents a churn amongst Bengali Muslims". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 April 2021.