Muslims will be looked after by Modi govt: BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain

Jammu: BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Saturday said the party will look after Muslims, even though it fielded only a few from the community for the upcoming general election.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is working with the motto of "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas" which allows for no discrimination, he said.

Hussain made the remarks talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here after addressing a series of meetings in support of BJP candidates -- Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore, who are seeking their re-election for a third term from Udhampur and Jammu parliamentary seats, respectively.

Hussain downplayed the lack of Muslim contenders in the party and said the post of prime minister or chief minister is not decided on the basis of religion or caste.

"It is imperative that such post-holders work with sincerity and equality and we are happy with the leadership of Modi who is working for all without any discrimination.

"Yes, it is true that we have not given mandate to Muslim candidates in the north but our government will take care of the community as before under the motto 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas,'" the BJP national spokesperson said.

He said the party has given its mandate to M Abdul Salam, a Muslim, from Malappuram in the south.

"The country saw the highest representation of Muslims in Lok Sabha and the Union cabinet when P V Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. Do Muslims see him in high esteem? BJP is not discriminating between Hindus and Muslims. Our Constitution does not allow us to distribute tickets or announce reservations on the basis of religion," he said and accused the Congress of raising such issues unnecessarily.

He said Modi is loved by all Muslims, and Muslims also know that they cannot get a country like India, a friend like a Hindu, and a leader like Modi.

Responding to a question about Congress'es allegations that Modi is working like a dictator, he said, "The word 'tanashah' (dictator) does not exist in our dictionary. Congress has got a patent for it as it removed the word from the dictionary and moved it to its office during Emergency. The other name of dictatorship is Congress."

Expressing confidence that BJP candidates will win both Lok Sabha seats in Jammu, he said, the leaders from the Opposition are joining the saffron party because "nobody wants to be in a sinking boat."

"Everyone knows Modi's boat is the only one which is going to make it to the shore. I have been to Uttarakhand and Bihar before coming here and everyone is confident that BJP will return to power with 370-plus seats and cross 400 mark with the support of alliance partners," he said.

When asked why BJP was still to announce its candidates for three seats in Kashmir, Hussain said, "we keep suspense and make the right decision at the right time."

The former Union minister said nobody in the country is better than Modi to lead the government. "He gave corona vaccination, food, houses and health cards to the people, then why anyone else. A strong leader will take the country to new heights and make it a world leader."

Hussain said the change in the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is being witnessed by the world and has paved the way for record-breaking tourist arrivals and ramped-up development.

"If Congress cannot see the development, they should come to BJP office and we will show it to them," he said.

The BJP leader also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and said while Gandhi is only parroting "Modi-Adani," Yadav is giving statements beyond his stature as his party has zero member in parliament.