No party can ignore Muslims: Modi supporter Zafar Sareshwala changes side

Muslims are kingmakers in 145 Lok Sabha constituencies

Hyderabad: the results of recent by-elections in the country especially victory of Muslim woman candidate Tabassum Hasan in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh made it clear that communal politics, religious fanaticism and divisive politics are no longer useful. Former Vice-Chancellor Maulana Azad National Urdu University Zafar Sareshwala, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi told this while commenting on the results of by-elections. He said Muslims were ignored in 2017 UP assembly elections but after one year, results proved that no party can ignore Muslims.

Sareshwala said giving party ticket to a Muslim candidate in Kairana where there are only 32 pc Muslims is an achievement of RAD and SP. He said to incite religious fanaticism and create hatred issues like Jinnah’s portrait, Babri Masjid, Muzaffarnagar riots were raked up, but people countered all the divisive tactics. The victory of a Muslim woman shows the support of majority community as well.

Sareshwala said mistake of underestimating Muslims’ political weight can be destructive for any party. He asserted that 90 pc of the Hindu brothers are secular. He further claimed that Muslims can play kingmaker in 145 Lok Sabha seats.

Speculations are rife in political circles after noting that Modi supporter Zafar Sareshwala has changed side following by-election results. He also praised the union of opposition and congratulated Tejashwi Yadav for a win in Bihar.