Trinamool Congress MP and actress Nusrat Jahan was criticised by an Islamic cleric earlier this week for taking part in the Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata. Responding to the criticism, Nusrat said she is a 'god's special child' and that she will celebrate all festivals.
"I'm God's special child. I celebrate all festivals. I respect humanity and love more than anything. I am very happy," she said. The controversy erupted after videos and photos of her playing 'Sindoor Khela', a Bengali Hindu tradition, with her husband Nikhil Jain at a Durga Puja pandal, were posted on social media. Following this, Mufti Asad Kasmi, an Islamic cleric in Uttar Pradesh said her actions would 'defame Islam and Muslims'.
"This is nothing new. She has been offering puja to Hindu Gods despite the fact that Islam orders its followers to pray only to Allah. What she has done is 'haram' (sinful)," he told PTI. "She had also married outside religion. She should change her name and religion. Islam doesn't need people who assume Muslim names and defame Islam and Muslims," he declared.
Nusrat had earlier faced the wrath of Islamic clerics for wearing Hindu symbols of marriage like the mangalsutra and sindoor. Nusrat has stuck to her stand that she only wants to promote communal harmony. "I think I have my own way of portraying harmony towards all religions. Born and brought up in Bengal, I feel I am doing right by following culture and tradition. Here, we celebrate all the religious festivities," she said.
Her husband, who had shared the video of them celebrating Durga puja, has also echoed her sentiments. On social media, too, Nusrat is being hailed for promoting secularism.
Nusrat tied the knot with Nikhil on June 20 in Turkey.
