BJP tries to tap Muslim votes ahead of Delhi Assembly polls

Reaching out to the Muslim community ahead of the assembly elections, state BJP president Viajy Goel said on Sunday that if his party comes to power in Delhi it would ensure an equal share for Muslims in the development process that ‘can be done only by addressing the real issues concerning the Muslim population in the city’.

Speaking at a convention ‘Muslims For Development’, organisd by the party’s minority cell at Talkatora stadium, Goel announced a number of sops to woo the Mulsim voters.

“BJP’s agenda for Muslims in Delhi includes upgrading education facilities for them, greater employment opportunities through skill development, training and credit facilities, adequate share in housing schemes meant for EWS, overhauling of infrastructure in areas with minority concentration and professional management of Wakf Board, Delhi Haj Committee, Urdu Academy and Minority Development Financial Corporation,” Goel said.

Goel further added that Urdu needs to be introduced as an optional subject in Delhi government and corportaion schools and all vacant posts of Urdu teachers must be filled up. The BJP leader said that the BJP will open polytechnic and modern schools in  areas with higher concentration of minorities. 

“We would also ensure planned development in these areas. It  seems Congress has deliberately turned such areas into ghettos.  It is time to stop treating Muslims as vote banks. They must get their due and be an equal partner in all growth endeavours in the city,” he said.

Addressing the convention,  BJP’s national vice-president, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “To garner votes, Congress and so called secular parties create a phobia on the issue of communalism or propogate misconceptions about BJP.

The so called proponents of secularism have ensured that today half of the Muslim population is living below poverty line. Whether it is education, safety or prosperity, Muslims remain a neglected lot.”