Don't be scared of BJP, Thakur tells Muslims-Oct 14, 2010,

Don't be scared of BJP, Thakur tells Muslims

Law Kumar Mishra, TNN, Oct 14, 2010, 10.06pm IST

PATNA: For the first time during the campaign for the Bihar assembly elections, the BJP officially made an appeal to Muslims to vote for the party and assured the party has no hatred for them.

"Muslims are not a small group. The appeal is necessary," state BJP president C P Thakur said here on Thursday.

Thakur was campaigning in the Muslim-dominated pockets of Bihar along with national party president Nitin Gadkari for the last two days. For the first time again, the BJP invoked the name of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to establish its love for Muslims. Thakur said, "Vajpayeeji as PM had repeatedly said in the Parliament: I am a secular and I shall remain secular." Thakur added he too was a secular leader. "Do not be scared of the BJP. We have no hatred for you," he told Muslims.

Thakur recalled that Vajpayee had gone to the laboratory of APJ Abdul Kalam and requested him to become the president of the country. He also reminded Muslims about the then PM's visit to the riot-affected areas of Ahmedabad in 2002 and said that 46 relief camps were opened on his initiative. As the then Union health minister, he also arranged for medical assistance and an instant grant of Rs 1 crore for the riot victims, he added.

Asked if an appeal by the Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, who led the party to victory even in the Muslim-dominated areas in the civic polls, would be more convincing to the minorities, Thakur said, "Chhoriye na dusron ko (leave others)". He said his appeal was appropriate.

The BJP leader also claimed that during the Bhagalpur riots, he was the first leader to visit the town followed by the Late Sunil Dutt. He also asked Muslims to "be soft to the BJP".