With political parties largely depending upon Muslim vote bank in the State, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) failed to garner support from prominent clerics in the ongoing lok Sabha elections.
The State comprises of more than 18 per cent Muslim voters who can swing poll scale in over 20 constituencies and prove to be game changer vote bank in many constituencies.The State also houses good number of Muslim clerics belonging to different Muslim sects including Sunni, Shia, Barelvi and Deobandi, who have an emotive impact on their communities.AAP leader Manish Sisodia, went to South Asia’s leading Sunni Islamic Seminary, Darul Uloom Deoband, which is said to be the most followed seminary across the nation as well as in some other Asian countries, and had meeting with a couple of clerics but failed get an appeal issued in party’s favour. After the meeting, irked seminary’s administration banned all kinds of meetings with the political figures and even all were directed to get associated with the political parties.
Dargah Ala Hazrat is situated in Bareilly, which is followed by Bareillvi Muslim sect. There Bareilvi Cleric, Maulana Tauqeer Raza was seen meeting AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal during Delhi Assembly elections but when it came to support in lok Sabha elections, the cleric turned his back and joined the camps of the BSP. “I had been watching closely and did not found anything new in AAP. There are incapable to beat BJP in State instead BSP is much stronger in the State,” said Tauqeer Raza.
Shia cleric, Maulana Kalbe Jawad, who stood up against the Congress even before Delhi Assembly elections, the AAP hoped to get his support but failed on that front too.Soon after making formal announcement of contesting lok Sabha elections on all the seats of the State, AAP national spokesperson, Sanjay Singh, went to meet the Jawad but there too party didn’t get any appeal.“When we were protesting in Delhi for Karbala Shah-e-Mardan and AAP was in power nothing was done. After which when I was detained by Delhi Police not even a single AAP leader came to police station. How can we trust (them)IJ” said Jawad.
Naib Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid and younger brother of Syed Ahmad Bukhari, Syed Yahya Bukhari, appealed to Muslims to support unconditionally to AAP in Delhi but when it came support AAp on a national front, he opted to remain silent.lucknow-based Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama popularly know as ‘Nadwa’ houses president of All India Muslim Personal law Board (AIMPlB), Maulana Rabe Hasani Nadwi, who is also rector of Nadwa Seminary.
Several AAP leaders and volunteers were reported to be meeting him and requested to issue an appeal in AAP’s favour but there too party didn’t get anything except blessings like other politicians.
With BJP PM candidate, Narendra Modi, getting immense support in Varanasi and Mukhtar Ansari extending support to Congress candidate Ajai Rai, Kejriwal’s only ray of hope depends on the local Muslims present there. But failing to get support from the community’s religious heads could keep him away from Muslim voters.