By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
If you are a Muslim and a voter in this Lok Sabha election then all the parties are interested in getting your votes. They are meeting your leaders/brokers/well-wishers to tell you how to vote. We have compiled those directives in one place so that all confusion remains in one place.
AIMC Pradesh President, Wafa Siddiqui in a press release today appealed people in MP to cast their votes in favour of secular candidates of any party who can defeat “fascist forces” like BJP, VHP, Shiv Sena and others in the country.
Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-all-india-milli-council-asks-people-to-vote-for-nominees-with-secular-credentials-1978491
AIMC: A conference held by leaders of various Muslim bodies on Saturday took an awry turn after Rashid Azim, the Mumbai president of the All India Milli Council, said the community should support the Congress in four out of six constituencies in Mumbai.
While Azim appealed to members of the community to support Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates Medha Patkar and Mayank Gandhi — contesting the Lok Sabha election from Mumbai North East and North West constituencies, respectively — he said for the lack of a better option, the community will have to vote for the Congress in other constituencies in the city.
Link: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/for-lack-of-choice-leaders-of-muslim-organisations-now-split-over-cong-aap/
Ajmer Dargah: The dargah dewan has urged Muslims that they should cast vote as Indians and not as Muslims to fairly participate in the world’s largest democratic exercise. “Muslims shouldn’t vote for parties but for candidates with fair credentials. I believe that Muslims are capable enough to judge the best man for them,” said Khan.
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Vote-as-an-Indian-not-Muslim-Dargah-dewan/articleshow/33793518.cms
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind: “Remember! Lack of unity and division of votes against communal forces is in fact helping them,” Maulana Arshad Madni said in his message.
He added it was responsibility of Muslim voters to join hands with other secular forces to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP
Link: http://www.hindustantimes.com/elections2014/election-beat/jamiat-ulema-hind-asks-muslims-to-vote-tactically-to-defeat-bjp-a-day-before-second-round-of-polling-in-up/article1-1208767.aspx
Kalbe Jawwad : Accusing Congress of treating Muslims as “servants”, Jawwad, a noted Shia scholar, said, “We appeal to Muslims to vote for secular candidates and boycott Congress.”
Link: http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/election-2014/religious-leaders-ask-muslims-to-boycott-both-bjp-congress-505642
Mushawarat asked voters to vote for Aam Aadmi Party and Congress Party on the national level and for Muslim parties where they have established themselves in Kerala, Assam and Hyderabad. On the regional level, Mushawarat supported a number of secular regional options like BSP, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), RJD and CPI so that candidates with secular and clean image win every constituency. Following is the full text of the statement issued at the press conference.
Link: http://www.milligazette.com/news/10263-indian-muslim-mushawarat-holds-press-conference-supports-aam-aadmi-and-congress-muslim-secular-parties
Muslim Nyay Hak Committee: “We appeal to Muslims not to vote for the so-called secular parties and exercise the ‘NOTA’ ((None of the Above) option to express their anger and anguish against all political groups, especially the Congress who used us for 60 years as a vote bank,” said Sarfuddin Karte, president, Muslim Nyay Hak Samiti.
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Muslim-leaders-Opt-for-NOTA-in-Thane/articleshow/33791642.cms
Syed Ahmed Bukhari appealed to India’s Muslims, who at 13 percent of the population are the country’s largest religious minority, to vote for the Congress.
Link: Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/04/us-india-election-muslim-idUSBREA3310B20140404
Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath: TNTJ president P Zainul Abideen said, “We have decided to extend our support to the DMK-alliance in 36 constituencies and the Congress in three constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Moreover, we are firm on our previous stand that Muslims in Puducherry can vote for any candidate except those fielded by Puducherry chief minister N Rangasamy and the PMK.”
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Lok-Sabha-Elections-2014/News/Muslim-outfit-announces-support-for-DMK-Congress-in-state/articleshow/33792431.cms
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Mudassir Rizwan contributed to this report.