The BJP’S Minority Morcha, which concluded its two-day national executive meeting at Hyderabad, aggressively promoted LK Advani as the most appropriate prime ministerial candidate and one whom minorities could trust.
What makes the pitch even more significant is that it was made at Hyderabad, the city with the largest concentration of Muslims (21 lakh) in the country. Muslims account for 9 per cent of the state electorate and their vote plays a decisive role in many Lok Sabha seats, particularly in Telengana, a BJP stronghold.
Morcha president Shahnawaz Hussain described Advani as “the best person to lead the country at a time when people are looking for an alternative”.
“Let us, under Advaniji’s leadership, unveil a new era of mutually supportive relationships between the BJP and minorities. Now is indeed the time to create history,” he said.
Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu revealed that the party was willing to field more Muslim candidates in the elections.
Hussain said: “My Country, My Life (Advani’s book) provides an eye-opening account… of his equal respect for all religions, equal concern for the welfare and progress of all communities and his vision of a riot-free India. Of special interest to minorities would be... how he... intervened to save the lives of many innocent Muslims during the communal violence in Gujarat.”
{{/usCountry}}Hussain said: “My Country, My Life (Advani’s book) provides an eye-opening account… of his equal respect for all religions, equal concern for the welfare and progress of all communities and his vision of a riot-free India. Of special interest to minorities would be... how he... intervened to save the lives of many innocent Muslims during the communal violence in Gujarat.”
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