Muslims will not be used as a vote bank, says AAP

Muaz Shabandri / 18 January 2014 BJP, Cong creating insecurity in minorities for political agenda For new entrant Aam Aadmi Party, reaching out to Muslim voters is crucial in the upcoming elections. The party has carefully distanced itself from communal politics but has made provisions for minorities in its manifesto. Shazia Ilmi, the party’s spokesperson says: “We don’t want Muslims to be used as vote banks, which is what they have been used as. Muslims are gearing around the Aam Aadmi Party. They feel this party means what it says.” Shazia is currently visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai on the invitation of the UAE chapter of Jamia Millia Islamia alumni. In an interview with Khaleej Times, Shazia hinted the party would reach out to Muslims but stay away from fear mongering and politics of hatred. “There is a phobia created where a party presents itself as a saviour and protector of the minority. The Congress uses RSS and Modi to create this effect. It is very sad and Muslims don’t want to be supplicants. They want to be normal citizens who can take care of themselves.” She lashed out at BJP and Congress for creating insecurity in minorities and then using it to push their own political agenda through vote bank politics. “We want to talk about the communalism of every party and ask them why Muslims have been singled out as a vote bank for one party — mostly by Congress. Even for the BJP, they have vilified and treated someone as others. One has to go beyond identity politics.” Shazia called on minorities to vote for the right candidate and not base their decision on religious factors. “I might have a Muslim candidate and I might be a Muslim but I have to ask if the Muslim candidate will do anything for me. Or will somebody like Yogendra Yadav or Prashant Bhushan do something better? Real issues should be talked about and it should not be individual-centric.” Asked about the Aam Aadmi Party’s choice of PM candidate, Shazia said a decision had not been taken yet and a name could be announced by the end of this month. “We have a national council meet coming up on 30th January. People would want Arvind Kejriwal (as PM) but we haven’t had a discussion on that at all. Arvind himself does not want to contest the Lok Sabha electionsbut the party will take a decision on that soon.” A cloud of uncertainty looms over the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India and no single party seems to have a clear upper hand yet. Congress’s decision to rule out Rahul Gandhi as a potential prime ministerial candidate comes at an important time as the party faces its biggest test in recent years. muaz@khaleejtimes.com - Khaleejtimes