Sir — The test of secularism for the ‘secular’ political parties has come to mean sacrificing seats for Muslim candidates in Hindu-dominated constituencies. During the Delhi Assembly election, last year, the Aam Aadmi Party gave Shazia Ilmi the ticket from RK Puram, a predominantly Hindu populated area.
In West Bengal, in the predominantly Hindu parliamentary constituency, Arambag, the Trinamool Congress has given the ticket to Afreen Ali nee Aparupa Poddar. The Barrackpore parliamentary constituency has been given to Subhasini Ali by the left Front. The trend is not limited to just the constituencies mentioned here, and all so-called secular parties are busy demonstrating their credentials through these silly, symbolic measures.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Can all these so-called secular parties dare to give a non-Muslim candidate the ticket to contest an election in a Muslim-dominated constituencyIJ Sadly, not. And, if they have done so, they must enlighten the people with relevant data.