New Delhi, July 24: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today sprang a surprise with his claim that Uttar Pradesh has seen fewer atrocities against Muslims when under BJP rule than a Congress government.
The sudden tilt towards the BJP by the heartland leader, sometimes called Maulana Mulayam for his closeness to Muslims, comes at a time when political parties are laying the groundwork for next year’s Assembly elections.
“Although the BJP is known for its anti-Muslim ideology, there were no atrocities on Muslims during BJP rule,” Mulayam said today. “The Congress claims to be pro-Muslim for votes but has never done anything good for the Muslims. Check the figures, there were more riots under Congress rule.”
The way Mulayam spoke, it seemed his claim was about the BJP’s and the Congress’s all-India record on violence against Muslims. Some journalists soon asked him about the Gujarat riots.
Did Mulayam see the 2002 post-Godhra communal violence as a “minor issue”?
Mulayam immediately said that he was speaking only about Uttar Pradesh. “The Gujarat chief minister himself carried out the riots as the party thought that it was the opportune time to target Muslims,” Mulayam said. Asked if he would tie up with the BJP, he said: “If the party changed its view about Muslims, I have no objection.”
Mulayam’s disappointment with the Congress may have stemmed from feeling neglected by the party, sources said. He could have also become wary of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s repeated forays into Uttar Pradesh.
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