By TCN Staff Reporter,
Patna: How much important is Muslim vote for a political or alliance to come to power in Bihar can be gauged easily as all major parties including BJP are all out to get the support of Muslims who constitute about 17% of total population of the state.
The state unit of the BJP – the party known for its anti-Muslim ideology — on Thursday officially made an appeal to Muslims to vote for the ruling party of the NDA alliance in the coming assembly election. The party stated that it has no hatred for the community.
But as the appeal might annoy some of its leaders loyal to RSS the state BJP President C P Thakur gave reason for his appeal to Muslims: “The appeal to Muslims is necessary because they are in large number in the sate .We cannot ignore them.”
Mr. Thakur, along with BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, has been campaigning for the party in Muslim dominated constituencies in Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia and Araria.
Mr Thakur claimed to be secular like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “I am a secular leader. After Bhagalpur riots, I was the first leader to visit the town followed by the late Sunil Dutt. And after 2002 Gujarat riot as the then Union health minister I arranged for medical assistance and an instant grant of Rs. 1 crore for the riot victims.”
He also said that it was BJP which requested APJ Abdul Kalam to become the President of the country, which clearly proved that BJP is not against Muslims.