Gujarat Polls: On Poll Eve, BJP Takes Off Gloves, Threatens Muslims

In a naked display of their real ideology, a leader of BJP and candidate from Dabhoi seat in Vadodara district Shailesh Mehta (Sotta) openly threatened Muslims by saying that their numbers should go down. Local Muslim population is feeling terrorized after this and a special prayer was offered in the mosque on Friday for peace and harmony.

While addressing an election gathering in the constituency, he reportedly said, "If someone with dadhi-topi (beard and cap) is among the people here, forgive me but their number here has to reduce because there should be no population of Dubai in Dabhoi. I want to assure you that I will not donate a single penny to a masjid (mosque) and madrasa if I win."

He added that he was "here to instil fear in Muslims".

The statement has not gone down well with the Muslim community, which feels insecure and anticipates "bad days" ahead.

"Whatever Sotta said cannot be seen in isolation. We fear something very bad can happen in the days to come," a resident of Veraval, who refused to be identified, told Newsclick.

Asked why he or the entire community is taking the BJP man so seriously, he gave a reason behind it. "There is a deep rooted hatred against Muslims in Gujarat. They are seeing that we have by and large overcome the 2002 carnage and have re-established ourselves in businesses. They are not happy and again want to give us a shock. If the BJP loses this election, as the political atmosphere suggests, they will react for sure," he reasoned.

Special dua (prayer) was offered after Friday prayers for peace and communal harmony in the state. People were seen crying during the prayer.

"Enough is enough. We don't want such violence again. We are unable to afford that," said an elderly man with visible anger on his face.

Muslims constitute around nine percent of the electorate of the 43.3 million people eligible to cast their votes in the state in the forthcoming Assembly polls,.

But political parties estimates suggest that Muslims comprise more than 10 percent of the electorate in 65 of the 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat and 20% in 20 seats. Political commentators are speculating that a terrorizing atmosphere can make Muslim turnout low in many of these seats facilitating a BJP win in an electoral battle where BJP is fighting with its back to the wall.

In 2012, the BJP won 42 seats with a margin of almost 15,000 votes or less. The Congress has identified 30-odd of these seats it believes it can wrest from the BJP, according to sources. With the Patidar community divided, several of the 30-odd seats are on the list of 65 where Muslims can be a factor if the BJP fails to get a consolidated Hindu vote.

Shockingly, BJP has no Muslim candidate in fray. The Congress has fielded only six Muslim candidates. In the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections held earlier this year too, the BJP did not field any Muslim candidate.

Even as it is instilling terror amongst the minority community, the BJP is learnt to have asked local party leadership across Gujarat to try and garner their votes to the extent possible.

Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups and Twitter handles of Muslims associated with the BJP minority cell have mushroomed. "This wasn’t the case until 2012 elections. Earlier, even if they were associated with the BJP, Muslims wouldn’t publicise the fact," activist Mujahid Nafees, who is associated with Minorities Coordination Committee, told Newsclick.

Although the Congress is opening all stops to woo the minority community, there is a deep unease among them. Reports suggest that despite the Muslims skepticism of Congress, they may choose it over BJP as there is no option.

"We have two enemies before us and have to select one because there is no third option. In this case, we will go for the one who is less dangerous," said Shoaib Ghani Kapadia, a businessman in Verawal near Somnath.