JOIN USJolt for Cong, Jamaat to support AAP on 5 seats
Hardline Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has asked Muslims to support the Aam Aadmi Party in five out of seven parliamentary constituencies.
The Jamaat appeal goes against the advice of Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmed Bukhari, who recently urged members of his community to vote for Congress. Jamaat said it is conducting a survey across constituencies with the help of its grassroot workers to identify candidates capable of defeating Bharatiya Janata Party.
“So far, the survey has been completed in five out of total seven parliamentary constituencies and we have found that AAP candidates fit our criteria. We have asked community members in all these areas to support AAP,” Jamaat-e-Islami Hind general secretary Nusrat Ali told Deccan Herald.
After the survey, the organisation has decided to support AAP candidates Jarnail Singh from West Delhi, Rajmohan Gandhi from East Delhi, Rakhi Birla from North-West Delhi, Anand Kumar from North-East Delhi and Ashutosh from Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituencies.
The survey is still on in New Delhi and South Delhi constituencies.
On the recent statement of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmad Bukhari asking community members to support Congress, the Jamaat leader said everyone is free to make a choice.
“It is his stand and he is free to support anyone. This is our stand and we are not just making statements. Our workers are visiting constituencies to convey the message to everyone. Every community voter in all these constituencies has been told to support AAP,” he added.
The organisation claimed that its motive behind this move is to stop “communal and fascist forces”.
“We don’t want communal and fascist forces to come to power. This is our primary motive. I want to make it clear that we are not supporting any particular party. The survey has been done constituency-wise and we have focused on strong candidates who can stop such forces from coming to power,” he added. Jamaat has two criteria for selection of candidates: they should be capable to defeating “communal forces” and are “clean and honest.”
The organisation has also conducted similar surveys in 75 other constituencies across the country.
It is understood that the Jamaat’s move came following the crushing defeat of the Congress in the last Assembly elections and the rise of AAP. The organisation feels that only AAP candidates can defeat BJP in the LS elections.