AAP not strong to beat BJP, Cong tells M’rashtra Muslims

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, March 9
Afraid of losing its hold over the community, the Congress is mobilising Muslim organisations in Maharashtra against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The minorities' cell of the Congress has chalked out plans to hold meetings in different parts of Maharashtra to get the Muslims behind its candidates during the Lok Sabha elections.

At one such meeting in Mumbai recently, noted activist Shabnam Hashmi told leaders of the Muslim community that the Aam Aadmi Party did not have the might to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Every vote for the Aam Aadmi Party would help the BJP," Hashmi said.

The activist also hit out at members of the Muslim community in Gujarat and other places who were engaging with Gujarat CM and the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. "We cannot forgive and forget the Gujarat riots," Hashmi said.

Others who spoke on the occasion like Congress leader and former MLA Yusuf Abrahani said the Muslim community should vote for those who have the potential to defeat BJP candidates.

Congress leaders want to paint their candidates as the only ones who are strong enough to defeat the BJP's representatives in Maharashtra.

Muslims account for around 12 per cent of the population in Maharashtra and their vote can affect the fortunes of political parties in at least 18-20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The community accounts for 20 per cent of the population in Mumbai's metropolitan region.

"The BJP's portrayal of Narendra Modi is a cause for concern among Muslims across India. Members of the community will vote for the strongest candidate who can defeat the BJP," Farid Khan, who runs an organisation called Mili Shoora, said.

He felt that even members of the community who agree with the message of AAP would end up voting for the Congress and other stronger parties across the country.

Number game

Muslims account for around 12 per cent of the population in Maharashtra and their vote can affect the fortunes of political parties in at least 18-20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state The community accounts for 20 per cent of the population in Mumbai's metropolitan region

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