Flashing the saffron ‘fear’ card to keep Muslims away from AAP

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By Mumtaz Alam, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 30 Jan 2015: As I came out of a big mosque in Jamia Nagar area after Friday Prayer here today, what drew my attention, and that of many others, was a makeshift kiosk put up in front of the main gate of the mosque. The kiosk covered with banners was displaying this message in Urdu language: Hoshiyar! AAP ko padne wala har vote, BJP ko mazboot karega (Beware! Every vote in favour of AAP will strengthen BJP). In the four-page leaflet that volunteers were distributing at the kiosk, Muslims were asked to vote for Congress as, it said, AAP and BJP are the two sides of the same coin. Old, tested tactic of the Grand Old Party or their leaders, isn’t it?

In the last two weeks, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has emerged much much ahead of its nearest rival Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it has become, as per pre-poll surveys of TV Channels and newspapers, a clear choice of the Delhi voters. Several reasons – from poor delivery of BJP’s central government in last seven months of power to infighting in the saffron party to the reality of a tired Congress – have factored the change in people’s mood.

Three Main Candidates in Okhla Assembly constituency in Delhi
Candidate
Party
Education
Wealth
Age
Amanatullah Khan
AAP
12th Pass
Rs 2 crore
41
Asif Mohammad Khan
Congress
10th Pass
Rs 15 crore
51
Braham Singh
BJP
10th Pass
Rs 16 crore
50

In the Okhla Assembly constituency wherein falls Jamia Nagar locality – a big Muslim pocket of Delhi – there are nine candidates in the fray including the sitting Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Khan who is fighting for third consecutive term. He is facing a strong challenge from AAP’s Amanatullah Khan – a renowned face of the area. BJP has fielded Braham Singh who has earlier contested on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket.


Front page of the 4-page leaflet distributed outside a mosque in Jamia Nagar on 30 Jan 2015.

The leaflet, though clearly sought vote for Congress, did not carry party’s name or that of its local candidate Asif Mohammad Khan. The name of an unknown Peace Council of India was printed on it.

“There is a tacit understanding between Aam Aadmi Party and RSS. Kejri and Kiran are the two sides of the same coin. Every vote cast in favour of AAP will strengthen communal forces,” said Peace Council in the leaflet.

“Congress is the only alternative. Congress has given protection to Muslims and made them equal partner in the development of the country,” claimed the Council which did not give its contact no. or address on the leaflet.


A hoarding of Arvind Kejriwal of AAP put up in Jamia Nagar area (Photo – IndiaTomorrow.net.

People in Delhi will cast vote on 7th February to elect a new 70-member Assembly. The last election was held in Dec 2013. AAP with 28 seats had formed the government with outside support of Congress and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal became chief minister. But on 50th day he resigned from the post as his dream Lokpal bill was not passed and President’s rule had since been imposed.

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