UP BJP plans to reach 10L Muslim families with ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ kits this Eid
As part of the initiative, the BJP Minority Morcha has started distributing ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ kits. The campaign will continue until Eid-Ul-Fitr, with BJP workers reaching out to Muslim families, particularly those residing near mosques.
Ahead of Eid, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a large-scale Muslim outreach initiative in Uttar Pradesh through its minority wing. The ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign is part of a broader plan to connect with underprivileged Muslim families, with about 10 lakh kits set to be distributed across the state. The move comes nearly a year after the Lok Sabha elections, during which opposition parties have accused the BJP government of targeting minorities amid communal tensions in districts like Bahraich and Sambhal.
As part of the initiative, the BJP Minority Morcha has started distributing ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ kits. The campaign will continue until Eid-Ul-Fitr, with BJP workers reaching out to Muslim families, particularly those residing near mosques.
Speaking to HT on Thursday, BJP Minority Morcha chief Jamal Siddiqui said that senior office bearers of the Morcha have been instructed to arrange and distribute the kits in their respective areas. Each kit, worth ₹800, includes 1 kg of vermicelli (sewaiyan), 2 kg of sugar, dates, dry fruits, and a salwar suit for women. The campaign was officially launched at Dargah Nizamuddin Auliya in New Delhi on March 24.
“This is an Eid gift from the Modi Parivar to the weaker sections of the Muslim community. Each kit carries Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph, symbolising his leadership and commitment to their welfare,” Siddiqui said.
Kunwar Basit Ali, the state chief of BJP’s minority wing, stated, “We are reaching out to around 32 lakh poor Muslims, with 10 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh alone. This is not a political campaign but an effort to help the needy during Ramzan. Since Modi Ji is our leader, we named the campaign after him.”
He further stated that BJP workers have identified around 10,000 mosques where they are distributing kits. “We want to bring smiles to families struggling to make ends meet,” he added.
The initiative has drawn criticism from opposition parties, which have dismissed it as a political gimmick. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati questioned its impact, suggesting that the BJP should focus on long-term solutions such as employment and security for minorities.
“Sending ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ to 32 lakh poor minority families on Eid ,Baisakhi and Easter serves political interests. What is its benefit when the Muslim and Bahujan communities remain concerned about their security and economic well-being?” Mayawati wrote on X.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi echoed similar sentiments, calling the kits a symbolic gesture rather than real empowerment. “If the government is committed to uplifting minorities, it should focus on quality education, employment, and economic development rather than short-term freebies,” he said.
However, BJP leaders have defended the initiative. The UP BJP vice-president and MLC Vijay Bahadur Pathak stated, “Our motto is ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’ Muslims are also part of this. We do not engage in appeasement politics but believe in treating everyone equally. Just as Navaratri is important for Hindus, Eid holds significance for Muslims.”
