Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stirred political discourse on Thursday by urging Muslims to move away from what he described as their “decades-old fashion” of resisting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and instead embrace a “passion” for supporting the party. Naqvi’s remarks, made during the BJP Minority Morcha Membership Drive Workshop in Lucknow, were aimed at challenging the traditional voting patterns of the Muslim community, which has historically been wary of the BJP.
Naqvi, a prominent Muslim face within the BJP and former minority affairs minister, accused the “feudal sultans of the so-called secular syndicate” of instilling fear among Muslims, leading them to view the BJP with distrust. He criticized opposition parties for allegedly manipulating the minority communities by portraying the BJP as an anti-Muslim force, a narrative that Naqvi vehemently rejected.
“We need to work tirelessly to ensure that minorities, especially Muslims, abandon their old fashion of blocking the BJP and instead develop a passion for supporting it,” Naqvi said. He emphasized that the BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not discriminated against any community in its developmental policies and that this inclusivity should be recognized and rewarded with electoral support.
Naqvi’s call for a shift in Muslim voting behavior comes at a time when the BJP is making concerted efforts to expand its appeal among minority communities. Despite the party’s success in securing a broad Hindu vote base, it has struggled to gain significant traction among Muslims, who make up a substantial portion of the electorate in several key states. Naqvi’s message was clear: the time has come for the Muslim community to reconsider its historical opposition to the BJP and to judge the party based on its governance rather than preconceived notions.
“The BJP doesn’t discriminate against any section of society when it comes to development. So, there should be no hesitation in voting for the BJP,” Naqvi argued. He suggested that the distrust that has kept Muslims from supporting the BJP must be replaced with trust, emphasizing that this transformation is crucial for the future of the community within the Indian political landscape.
In his address, Naqvi also took aim at the opposition’s characterization of the BJP as “anti-Constitution,” dismissing it as a baseless allegation designed to obscure the truth. He defended Prime Minister Modi as a leader deeply committed to democratic principles and the Indian Constitution, asserting that Modi’s governance is a testament to the inclusivity and development-oriented approach that the BJP advocates.
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“Prime Minister Modi is a leader who bows his head at the temple of democracy, holds the Constitution close to his heart, and is leading an inclusive journey of good governance,” Naqvi declared. He portrayed the BJP as a party that not only respects but also upholds the foundational values of the Indian Republic, countering the opposition’s claims of constitutional violations.
Naqvi also used the platform to defend the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which has been a subject of intense debate. The proposed legislation seeks to increase governmental oversight of Waqf properties, which are Islamic charitable endowments, and includes provisions to alter the composition of Waqf Boards by incorporating non-Muslim members. Critics have argued that the bill undermines the autonomy of Waqf institutions and represents a state overreach into religious affairs.
Naqvi, however, framed the bill as a necessary step to ensure “constitutional hierarchy over unconstitutional anarchy.” He argued that the amendment would bring greater accountability and transparency to the management of Waqf properties, aligning them more closely with constitutional principles and reducing the potential for misuse or mismanagement.
The workshop in Lucknow was part of the BJP’s broader strategy to engage with minority communities and address the concerns that have historically kept them from embracing the party. Naqvi’s remarks underscore the BJP’s intent to challenge the narratives that have long dominated Muslim political thinking and to position itself as a viable and inclusive option for voters across all communities. Whether this strategy will yield the desired results remains to be seen, but it signals a significant shift in the party’s approach to minority outreach.
