Muslim leaders upset as no Muslim candidate from the Congress in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: A section of Muslim leaders who had hoped that the Congress would nominate at least one Muslim for the Lok Sabha elections in the state have said the community is disappointed and will go to vote with a "heavy heart."
Lodging his protest, former minister Naseem Khan has resigned as "star-campaigner." Khan who was also in the race to get ticket from Mumbai North Central which has over 6.5 lakh Muslim and two lakh north Indian voters said that the community is very angry.
Lodging his protest, former minister Naseem Khan has resigned as "star-campaigner." Khan who was also in the race to get ticket from Mumbai North Central which has over 6.5 lakh Muslim and two lakh north Indian voters said that the community is very angry.
"Every community, except Muslims, has got nominations. This has angered the community
The Congress has fielded Mumbai chief Varsha Gaikwad from Mumbai North Central from where many had hoped a Muslim would get the nomination .
"After polling on Friday, 35 seats more are to go for polls in the state and the community will not show much enthusiasm as it would have had the party fielded at least one Muslim in the state. Now Muslims will reach the polling booths with a heavy heart as they feel that Congress uses them as just vote bank," observed Zakir Ahmed, general secretary, Maharashtra Congress .
The Congress has fielded Mumbai chief Varsha Gaikwad from Mumbai North Central from where many had hoped a Muslim would get the nomination .
"After polling on Friday, 35 seats more are to go for polls in the state and the community will not show much enthusiasm as it would have had the party fielded at least one Muslim in the state. Now Muslims will reach the polling booths with a heavy heart as they feel that Congress uses them as just vote bank," observed Zakir Ahmed, general secretary, Maharashtra Congress .
Many said that, by not nominating a single Muslim out of 48 seats, the INDIA alliance, especially Congress, has sent out a wrong message and seems to have followed the BJP's alleged agenda to make Indian politics Muslim-mukt.
"What will we tell the community when it asks us about the non-representation of the community? Has the Congress forgotten that, after 2002, a huge section of Muslims in Gujarat went away from the Congress and began voting for the BJP because of the Congress's policies? Who told them that giving one seat out of 48 would have angered Hindu voters?," asked city Congress minority cell vice-chairman Mudassar Patel.
City Congress general secretary Asif Farooqui hoped that Congress would compensate for non-nomination for Muslims in near future. "I am sure congress is understanding and will act positively for Muslims at a right time," Farooqui hoped.
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