AMN / New Delhi
Senior BJP leader and Union minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said it would have been “better” if his party had fielded Muslim candidates for the on-going assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh but asserted that the next BJP government in the state will work sincerely for the minorities.
“Ticket dia hota toh behtar hota (It would have been better if BJP had given tickets to Muslims),” Mr Naqvi told media persons here.
When pointed out that the BJP has not given any ticket for the crucial polls in Uttar Pradesh, which has a sizeable Muslim population, he said while the party has not fielded any Muslim candidate, “it does not mean if BJP comes to power after elections, they will face any discrimination”.
“Our government will cater to the welfare of Muslims as well,” Mr Naqvi said. Some other BJP leaders also have maintained last week that it would have been “better” if the BJP had given tickets to a few Muslim party leaders in the state.
However, earlier this month, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma has said, “Tickets are given in elections mainly judging by the winnability factor. Our party does not believe in indulging in lip service to the welfare of Muslims or any community just by distributing tickets for symbolic values”..