E-Paper
No Hindutva in our politics, Muslims not untouchables, says Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (S)
UP Assembly election: The Apna Dal (S) has a Muslim candidate in its list for the first time. Haider Ali, the grandson of Congress veteran Begum Noor Bano, is contesting against SP leader Azam Khan’s son Abdullah Azam Khan from Suar.
Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel on Monday said her party is ideologically different from ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and that they had no association with “Hindutva and all those issues”.
Stating that Muslim candidates are not untouchable for her party, the Union minister said the Apna Dal (S) stands for social justice. A seven-phased Assembly election is set to begin in Uttar Pradesh on February 10.
"Yes we are ideologically different from the BJP. People are trying to ask me questions on Hindutva and all those issues, I dissociate myself from all those issues and my party does not do religious politics. We stand for social justice. That's our ideology,” Patel was quoted as saying by PTI.
Also read | Apna Dal (S) vs Apna Dal (K): Face off likely on two seats in eastern UP
“We have always worked for the marginalised sections of society, whether on the streets or in Parliament. And, this is our philosophy and our founding principles and we only stick to it," she added.
The Apna Dal (S), which has been BJP's ally in the last three elections in Uttar Pradesh – the 2014 and 2019 general elections and the 2017 assembly polls -- has a Muslim candidate in its list for the first time.
Haider Ali, the grandson of Congress veteran Begum Noor Bano, was the first candidate announced by the Apna Dal (S). Bano is contesting against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan’s son Abdullah Azam Khan from Suar.
Patel said her party does not look at candidates from the prism of religion when asked about why there was not a single Muslim candidate from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last time. Ali is the first Muslim candidate for the Apna Dal and also for the NDA. "I don't know why everybody is looking at a candidate from the perspective of religion. He is a promising youth who is well educated," Patel said.
"The first MLA from my party when the founder of my party Sonelal Patel was alive was a Muslim who won the Pratapgarh Sadar constituency and his name was Haji Munnah. Many Muslims have been state presidents of the Apna Dal. For my party, Muslims are not untouchables and I do not look at candidates in light of their religion," the Union minister said.
Patel, who is a minister in the Commerce and Industry ministry, said the Apna Dal (S) had always been at the forefront on raising issues related to the ideology of social justice. It had also raised the matter of other backward classes (OBC) reservations in NEET examinations with the BJP’s top leadership.
She said the mood in Uttar Pradesh is in favour of the NDA and the BJP-led alliance will again form a government in the state. "The mood is very clear. We will be retaining the government in Uttar Pradesh. People have seen good governance and inclusive growth in Uttar Pradesh. I think we have been able to fulfill expectations of people in the state to a great extent. “People have witnessed good law and order and inclusive growth in the state and will support us," Patel said.
On the question of several OBC leaders leaving BJP ahead of the assembly polls, Patel said this is a common trend before elections. “Leaders irrespective of caste leave before elections and this crossover of politicians to other parties before elections is a common trend and a common feature,” she said.
So far, the Apna Dal has announced 13 candidates and is expected to name faces for five more seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly. In the last state election, the party contested on 11 seats and won nine. The Apna Dal (S) has two MPs in the Lok Sabha.
(With agency inputs)
