Jamiat chief says 'politics should never be done over religion'

Asserting that politics should never be done over religion, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind chief Syed Mehmood Madani on Tuesday requested the various political outfits to ask for votes on the basis of the hard work put in by them for public welfare.

"I want to tell all regional political parties-do politics and ask for votes, but don't do negative politics. You should get votes on positive stands and not on negative stands, I request to all political parties," he said.

Madani, who had earlier accused the Congress Party of fanning fears about BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, said that he has been misquoted.

The Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind chief also refused to comment on whether he endorsed Modi.

"Why do you want me to say this right now? There is still time for elections," he said.

Speaking at a conference on the demand for reservation for Muslims at Jaipur's Birla Auditorium, Madani had earlier said: "The Muslim community should not be scared. Secularism is deep-rooted in the country and communal forces can never win over the hearts of general public."

"Congress should not try to get Muslim votes by creating fear about somebody. The party should look at possibilities of community welfare which they have not done so far," he added.