Excelsior Correspondent
-Excelsior/Amin War
Srinagar, Nov 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party has roped in Muslim clerics across the country to canvass for it in the Assembly elections to achieve its ‘Mission 44 plus’ and form the next Government.
Over 2000 clerics are currently campaigning door-to-door for the party in the Valley and as the elections near more clerics will be brought in.
“2000 ulamas are presently in Kashmir. They are meeting people to hear their basic issues and take up their issues with the Union Government,” Moulana Suhaib Qasmi, National President of his own Jammat Ulama-e-Hind told Excelsior in an exclusive interview here.
“As the campaigning gears up more ulamas in large numbers will be coming here to campaign for BJP across in the State,” Qasmi said.
Qasmi is a Deoband-based cleric who joined BJP during Parliament elections which stirred protests by some clerics.
“Kashmir has been turned into ruins. It needs rebuilding. These elections will be fought for development and progress of the state unlike past elections which were contested on emotive issues and family-based politics,” he said.
While other leaders of BJP are rallying up for voters’ support in Jammu, Qasmi said his focus will be in Muslim-majority areas.
A native of Bijnore, Qasmi holds secret meetings with people while visiting the Valley. At BJP’s office at Rajbagh, Qasmi meets local clergy from different parts of the valley who come in small groups.
“In Jammu region, I have been to Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch and in Valley I campaigned in Budgam, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Sopore, Bandipora and Downtown in Srinagar,” he said.
His focus is to target people with religious knowledge and those clerics who lead prayers in mosques in villages and mohallas.
“Since a lot of hatred has been spread against BJP and RSS. I have come here to diffuse hate campaign that has been spread against the BJP and RSS,” he said.
Qasmi, who criticized Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief Moulana Arshid Madni for supporting Congress, said that Modi’s message is the development and progress of all.
“He (Modi) considers Muslim as the fourth pillar of India. The way people of India of all regions and religions elected BJP is clear that the party is coming closer to the Muslims,” he said.
He claimed that in Haryana and Maharashtra Muslims voted for BJP which is an indication that “Muslims are coming closer to BJP.”
When asked if he is meeting religious bodies and Hurriyat Conference leaders, Qasmi said he will meet all those parties and people who are for peace and love for each other.
While praising RSS, the Muslim cleric said RSS is an apolitical organisation that works for the development of the country and for the downtrodden people.
“RSS has changed. It was RSS that talked about Muslims of the country. Indresh Kumar, main worker of RSS, has galvanized Muslims to join RSS. And because this change Muslims are joining the RSS in Rajasthan, Madya Pradesh, Haryana and other states,” he said.
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