In a recent development, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has evaded questions regarding the lack of Muslim candidates in the party’s first list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. The BJP released the list of 189 candidates, which included 52 young faces, but no Muslim candidates were given a ticket.
When questioned by the media about this, Tejasvi Surya initially evaded the question and later stated that there are many other seats and the party will take a call. This has led to accusations of the BJP being anti-Muslim and engaging in communal politics.
This move by the party is being seen as a deliberate attempt to sideline and exclude Muslims from the political process, particularly given the recent atrocities against Muslims in Karnataka. For instance, the hijab controversy in Udupi PU college, where BJP MLA Sanjeeva Mathandur had warned of action against students who insisted on wearing the hijab to college. Right-wing groups have also threatened to ban Muslim businesses from setting up stalls at temple festivals in coastal Karnataka, and urged Hindus not to buy gold from Muslims on Akshaya Tritiya.
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While BJP leaders have defended the decision, claiming that candidates were selected based on their merit and not their religion, the fact remains that the lack of Muslim representation in the party is a cause for concern.
The BJP has been known for its Hindutva ideology, and this move is being seen as a reaffirmation of that ideology. The party’s stance on minorities has been a subject of much debate, and this move is likely to add to the controversy.
As the elections approach, it remains to be seen whether the BJP will field any Muslim candidates in its future lists.