The NCP supremo Sharad Pawar went on to say that Muslims vote for the parties which can manage to defeat the BJP in elections
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday sparked a controversy when he suggested that minorities decide whom to defeat in Maharashtra elections. At a meeting of the NCP’s minority cell, Pawar said Muslims ditched the Bharatiya Janata Party during last year’s Maharashtra Assembly Elections.
The NCP supremo Sharad Pawar went on to say that Muslims vote for the parties which can manage to defeat the BJP in elections.
“In Maharashtra elections, Muslims didn’t vote for the BJP. They voted for parties which can defeat the BJP. During elections, the minorities decide whom to defeat. In Maharashtra, the change of guard which we are seeing is due to minorities,” said Pawar in a meeting.
The former Chief Minister of Maharashtra then went on to accuse the BJP of seeking to divide the society.
“This central government led by BJP is trying to divide the society. This government is dangerous and divides the people on the basis of religion,” Pawar said, in remarks that take swipe at the BJP amid the debate over the citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.
“The BJP is in power and we hope that the party in power will take all people together. The people in power have made an easy way for Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs, but not for Muslims. Because of NRC and CAA, certain minorities will get ignored,” Pawar said, expressing fears over the two measures.
“There are different communities in India. The people of the Banjara community usually don’t stay in one place, travel here and there for work. In what way they going to prove their citizenship? The community doesn’t have any records; their names are not there even in the voting list,” he added.
The NCP supremo suggested that such people should be kept away from power.
“We should keep such people away who want to break the unity of India. We all should unit together. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh kept them away. Delhi will also follow the same thing. The people are telling us Maharashtra showed us the way,” Pawar said, in a message to the opposition to stay united against the BJP.
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