– Sami Ahmad
Patna, October 8, 2023: Bihar chief minister met Muslim leaders of his party Janata Dal (United) and other prominent Muslim personalities on Saturday. He is quoted to have said that AIMIM is a ‘B team of BJP’ and the ‘minority section should be alert of that’. He is also reported to have cautioned them against the ‘target politics’ of the Bhartiya Janata Party. A few months back also Mr. Kumar had met Muslim leaders.
This is the first major meeting of Nitish Kumar with Muslim leaders after the caste survey release in which the population of the Muslim community was estimated to be 17.7 percent. However, it is not clear if the Muslim leaders put any demand before the CM.
Mr. Kumar said AIMIM will field its candidate to dent in votes at many places. He asked not to get the AIMIM succeed in its plan. He alleged that AIMIM will create confusion as ‘its aim is to benefit the BJP’. He said to keep an eye on AIMIM’s activities and not let it succeed.
Mr. Kumar said that he will continue to work for the minorities. He claimed that he worked for the minority even when he was part of the BJP-led NDA without any pressure. He said that in 2010 minority community’s 50 percent votes were polled for JD(U), when it was in alliance with the BJP. He claimed that due to him the BJP got 20 percent votes of minority in 2010.
He urged Muslims to be cautious of the BJP and its misinformation as the Lok Sabha election is nearing. He said that efforts to create tension and hatred will be made, so, ‘the minority community needs to be alert.’ He asked the Muslim community leaders to be cautious of BJP’s ‘target politics.’ It is believed that Nitish was referring to the targeted attack of BJP leaders against the Muslim community.
