PM Modi’s Advice to BJP : Engage with Muslims even if they don’t vote for us

PM Modi’s Advice to BJP workers to improve the party and engage with the Pasmanda, Bohra and Educative Muslims before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi has advised his supporters to engage with Muslims and other minorities without yearning for their support. Modi reportedly discussed areas where the party has to improve before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in his final speech on Tuesday at the BJP’s two-day national executive conference in New Delhi.

The BJP’s initiative to engage the Pasmanda community came about as a result of PM Modi’s suggestion, made in Hyderabad in July last year while addressing his party’s national executive conference, that party officials show support for the underprivileged and oppressed members of all communities. He also suggested BJP go on a “sneh yatra” (affection rally).

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A recent event was held in Patna by BJP MLC and former Union Minister Sanjay Paswan, who was joined by important Muslim leaders and RSS leader Ram Madhav. They discussed the issues affecting Pasmandas at length while the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an RSS affiliate, is also likely to reach out to people to dispel “phobia” among the minority community created by “opposition parties.”

“The PM called upon BJP workers to meet Pasmanda Muslims, Bohra community, Muslim professionals and educated Muslims without expecting votes in return,” ANI quoted.

Additionally, he advised members to visit churches and colleges.

According to Modi, all states should work together and be understanding of one another’s language and culture under the direction of “Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat.”

Modi also mentioned that there are just about 400 days until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and asked party members to serve every area with complete dedication, in a speech referred to by some participants as his grand vision to build the BJP and lead the nation in every aspect.

Some party leaders often criticise films for “hurting” people’s sentiments, with the most recent example being the Shah Rukh Khan film ‘Pathaan’.

People in the 18 to 25 age range, according to Modi, have not experienced India’s political past and are unaware of the “corruption and wrongdoings” that occurred under previous governments.

Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, told reporters that Modi emphasised reaching out to all communities and that his statement did not reflect that of a political leader but rather one who prioritized the interests of the country above that of the party.

Modi encouraged party members to engage with various cultures by mentioning the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, which was recently conducted in Varanasi to celebrate ancient spiritual ties between the two areas.

Who are Pasmanda Muslims and why is BJP wooing Them?

The term “Pasmanda” finds its roots in Urdu, and roughly translates to “those left behind”.

“Pasmanda”, refers to the most backward, most marginalized, and most oppressed members of the Muslim community. In India, Pasmanda Muslims form more than 85 percent of the total Muslim population.

The 2006 Sachar Committee report, which examined the state of Muslims in India, states that over 40.7 percent of Muslims in India are Muslim OBCs — nearly 16 percent of the total OBC population.

It further highlighted that Indian Muslim OBCs had a substantial lack of access to reservations and special rights afforded to SC/OBC Hindus under Article 341 of the Constitution.

This lack of access extends to many Muslim OBCs not being included in the list of OBCs in the country that qualifies for protection and special rights, as well as not being provided with the same protections and reservations given to Scheduled Castes under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.

Despite caste being a Hindu construct, and Islam not having the concept of caste, Indian Muslims can be categorized into three “castes”, according to the 2006 Sachar Committee.

According to reports, the BJP had created a strategy in 2022 to create a new support base composed of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), Pasmanda (backward) Muslims, and non-Jatav Dalits in these states in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as the assembly elections in the two crucial states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar drew near.

To warn Pasmanda Muslims and Muslims from other castes about the BJP and its “newfound affection” for them, the All India Pasmanda Muslim Manhaz has now released a statement. More than 50 Muslim sub-castes have reportedly been warned by the All-India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz (AIPMM) to watch out for political parties, including the BJP, because of their “sudden love”. They have requested that the scheduled caste (SC) category include Dalit Muslims and Christians and that the SC category’s reservation be enhanced. It is important to remember that Ali Anwar, a former JD-U member and president of the Rajya Sabha, founded the AIPMM.

According to a Hindustan Times report, Ali Anwar has said, “Instead of misleading Pasmanda Muslims, the Narendra Modi government should take necessary action to include Dalit Muslims and Christians in SC category and increase reservations for SCs in jobs and education.” In July 2022 too, Anwar had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for SC status for Pasmanda Muslims.

“Even if the BJP is extending a friendly hand towards Pasmandas for their votes, could you at least take these few steps immediately: There are about a dozen castes within the Pasmanda Muslims such as Halalkhor (scavenger, Bhangi), Muslim washer man, cobbler, Bhatiyara, Gadhedi, etc for whom the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Mishra Commission have recommended SC status.

Has your government, in response to a query from the Supreme Court last year, replied it will not accept this recommendation? Will you end this religion-based discrimination by increasing the quota for scheduled castes?” he had written in the letter.

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