By Abdul Bari Masoud, MM N ews,
New Delhi: Sensing the negative fallouts of senior leader V K Malhotra’s unsavoury remarks about ‘Jamia Nagar on his prospects in the Muslim-dominated Chandni Chowk constituency, Delhi BJP chief and Party candidate Harsh Vardhan tried his best to clarify his stand on the issue saying he did not approve such sweeping remarks on terror. While interacting with Urdu editors here on Thursday, he said he talked to Malhotraji in this regard who clarified his statement. “I called Malhotraji and told him that our stand is basically that terrorists have no colour or religion and such politically potent statements are completely unnecessary before the polls”. The other day, Malhotra had described South Delhi’s Muslim-dominated area Jamia Nagar as ‘a terrorist sanctuary of terrorists’ following arrest of two youths by the Delhi Police’s special cell who were released later.
Vardhan is contesting from the Chandni Chowk seat which has more than 30 per cent of Muslim votes that can polarize in favour of any ‘secular’ candidate. So in a bid to reach out Muslims, Vardhan insisted that he personally feels that such sweeping statements should not be made as terrorism has no religion. Taking a potshot at his rival Aam Aadmi Party candidate Ashutosh, he said he was in the forefront to malign Muslims when Batla House encounter took place as the editor of the news channel IBN-7.
Harping on the oft-repeated refrain that BJP is not anti-Muslim and it is a perception created by its opponents, Vardhan said the BJP is the only party which wants genuine development of the community. “There is growing realization among Muslims about the BJP and they cannot be given wrong perception about the party”. When this correspondent asked what message the party wants to give the community and the country by arresting a reputed and eminent religious leader? He tried to feign ignorance about the details of Maulana Abdul Qavi’s arrest who was arrested at Delhi airport by the Gujarat police in 10- year old case in which all the 42 accused were acquitted by courts.
When pointed out that the party did no field any Muslim from Delhi and also ignored in the last assembly elections? While admitting the fact, he said there are many angles involved in selection of candidates top most among is winnability factor. He revealed that the party had considered of fielding journalist M J Akbar (as the Muslim Mirror reported earlier) from any of the seven seats in the capital but later abandoned the idea.
Calling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the tallest leader of the party, he said such leaders cannot born in next hundred years. When this correspondent asked , ‘ then why the party, which claims to be an ideological party, is heavily banking on the ‘personality-cult’? Defending the party’s personality-based campaign, he said ‘Narendra Modi ‘symbolizes party’s ideology and good-governance’. ‘Muslims have no fear about Modi and now the news channels are not carrying anti-Modi propaganda in reference to Gujarat riots,’ he added. He also claimed that Modi government is not following any discriminatory policy against the minority community in Gujarat.
Describing the Chandni Chowk as a prestigious area because of its historical monuments and significance, he said if he wins the seat, he will try to restore its past glory. The seat will witness the triangular contest as Vardhan is facing Union Minister Kapil Sibal who is sitting MP from this seat.
On the occasion, some Urdu editors begged for party advertisements for their papers.