Muslims are not vote banks of any party: Gujarat BJP
Minority leaders of the party attempted to explain to the Muslims that the BJP was keen on bettering their lot.
To expand its presence in the minority community, BJP organised a state level get-together cum felicitation function of Muslim leaders in Surat on Saturday. Top Muslim leaders were present at the function, including music director Ismail Darbar who was honoured on the occasion.
The programme was organised at Gandhi Smruti Bhavan at Nanpura by the BJP's Gujarat State Minority Wing. Top BJP leaders of the state and of the Muslim community were present at the function which was aimed at mobilising Muslim support for the party. Minority leaders of the party attempted to explain to the Muslims that the BJP was keen on bettering their lot.
"The state government has never shown any bias towards Muslims. We are taking all necessary steps to improve the lives of our Muslim brothers. Some people are trying to misguide Muslims," BJP leader Bhupendra Chudasma said. Members of Alpasankhyak Nana Panch also supported the BJP, asking Muslims not to become mere vote banks of a particular party.
"Whenever elections arrive, pamphlets are distributed in Muslim dominated areas. Local meetings are organised and community leaders are asked to vote for a party decided by local religious leaders. Muslims should change their mind-set," Kadar Ghanot, member of the Minorities Finance Commission, said.
According to Ghanot, the state government has raised the number of Muslim schools from 174 in the state to 574 in the past 10 years. Number of minorities receiving scholarships has also increased. Sufi Sant Mehbubali Bava Saheb, president of BJP's Minority Wing urged Muslims to identify party and people while casting their vote or supporting them during elections.