Party ally disowns BJP's Hindutva, says Muslims are not untouchables

New Delhi: Union Minister Anupriya Patel, representing her party Apna Dal (S), said on Monday that Muslims are not untouchable to her party, it has no inclination towards Hindutva, and it is ideologically different from BJP, although they are allies, PTI reported.

Apna Dal (S) had fielded Haider Ali, a Muslim, to contest Uttar Pradesh's Suar constituency. Anupriya's mention about Muslims was when she responded to the question that her party, as well as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), have never fielded Muslims before Haider Ali. She said she doesn't know why everybody is looking at a candidate from the perspective of religion, which her party never does. The first MLA of their party was Haji Munnah, who won the Pratapgarh Sadar constituency. Many Muslims had become their state presidents, she added, Haider Ali is a promising candidate and well-educated youth.

Further, she said that she dissociates with Hindutwa and related issues as same as her party never does religious politics. The party stands for social justice, she said. The party works for the marginalised irrespective of being on the streets or the parliament, which is their founding principle, and they stick to it.

Anupriya said that the mood in the state is clear that BJP led NDA will form government again. People have experienced good governance, and the law and order situation has improved under the BJP regime in the state; thus, the people will support them.

On some OBC leaders leaving BJP to join other parties, she said that irrespective of cast, people switch parties, which is a common trend during elections.

The party had failed 13 candidates and is about to announce five. It has won nine out of 11 contested seats in 2017 and has two MPs in Lok Sabha.