Muslims have come closer to BJP in 5 yrs: Minority cell chief

The president of Gujarat BJP Minority Morcha on Sunday claimed that Muslims have come much closer to the party in 2012 than they were during the 2007 elections.

Addressing a public meeting organised in Dabhoi by the minority cell ahead of the Assembly elections, Sufi Sant Mehbub Ali Bava said, "In 2007, we did not have a proper platform to reach out to Muslims, but today, the party has established better contact with Muslims, which is why 192 Muslim councillors from all over state won on BJP tickets."

"Even the Minority Morcha was not as active then. Today, we have better platform and better ambience, and this is clear from several scholars and religious leaders from Muslim community joining the party," he added.

The meet was attended by hundreds of Muslims from nearby tribal-dominated areas in Vadodara such as Bodeli, Chhotaudepur, Pavi Jetpur and Naswadi.

Bava said Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Sadbhavana Mission sent out a right message of national unity. "Sadbhavana rally sent out the right message that we are gathered on the single platform of nationalism, beyond caste and religion. Political sphere has been cleansed by such a programme," he said.

He said the community values safety and development that the state government has given to them. "In any society, people's expectations from a political party is development and security. BJP has offered Muslims, and other communities, both these things. Data clearly shows Muslims have benefited from the BJP rule in the state," he said.

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