Muslims should vote en masse for Cong: Azad

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad said on Tuesday that the results of the Karnataka Assembly elections will be an indicator of the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"Hence, the BJP shouldn’t be allowed to come to power in the state at any cost. Muslims should en masse cast their votes in favour of Congress candidates" he said. Azad was speaking while canvassing for Gulbarga Dakshin constituency Congress candidate Allama Prabhu Patil here on Tuesday.

“If you criticise Hindus, the BJP will come to power. Instead of criticising Hindus, cast your vote in favour of Congress candidates,” Azad said.

Earlier, speaking at a campaign meeting for Gulbarga Uttar constituency candidate Kaneez Fathima, the senior Congress leader from Jammu and Kashmir said, “former prime minister Indira Gandhi ruled the country for 17 years. Today, the defence and foreign ministers and Lok Sabha Speaker are women. Hence, Kaneez Fathima should be elected as a legislator.”

Recalling the contributions of former Gulbarga Uttar MLA the late Qamar-ul-Islam, Azad said the late leader's wife Fathima should be elected with a margin of more than 20,000 votes. "This would also be a way of expressing gratitude to Islam," he added.