Ex-Shahi Imam Syed Bukhari dead

New Delhi, Jul 8: Former Shahi Imam of historic Jama Masjid Syed Abdullah Bukhari, who led campaign against emergency, along with Jai Prakash Narayan and Sarvodaya leader Acharya Kriplani, died at AIIMS here this morning after a prolonged illness.
He was 87 and is survived by his wife and four sons. Syed Bukhari was not keeping well for more than a year and was frequently shifted to hospital for treatment of various ailments.
He was shifted to AIIMS three weeks back and was being treated there by senior doctors for heart ailment and other diseases. He breathed his last at 0900 hrs.
Syed Bukhari worked for social economic empowerment of Muslims and strongly opposed late Sanjay Gandhi's emergency accesses in Turqman Gate area of Delhi. He was also imprisoned for one-and-a-half years.
He had an opportunity to interact with world leaders including Iranian spiritual leader Imam Khumani, Saddam Hussain, former rulers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Malaysia.
Several political and religious leaders expressed shock and sorrow over Syed Bukhari's death and lauded his role for promotion of amity among various sectors.

UNI