BJP plans outreach programmes to shed its anti-Muslim party image

New Delhi: In the wake of incidents which are construed as anti-minority activities, particularly against Muslims, the BJP is said to have come up with measures to reach out to Muslim minorities to create awareness of the Central government welfare schemes for them. The reach-out programme intends to shed the alleged anti-Muslim branding on the party.

Reports suggest that the party members have been asked to promote the share of social welfare schemes the Muslim community is getting to show they are not kept aside on the basis of religion.

A BJP leader said that the real-time data would show how the Central government’s social welfare schemes benefit the Muslim community against the fear the opposition parties have been instilling in Muslims.

The party wants the Muslim community to understand the Central government’s various schemes designed for them to make them amenable towards the party for the community’s votes.

Earlier in a party conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged party workers and leaders to reach out to the economically and socially backward Muslims, also known as ‘Pasmanda’, at the party’s national executive committee meeting in Hyderabad last year.

The PM was reported to have cited the example of Bohra Muslims who have not been opposed to the BJP, even if they are not counted as voters.

Starting February 10, the BJP’s ‘minority morcha’ will begin an outreach programme that will include identifying 5,000 people from 60 Lok Sabha constituencies with whom the party leaders will engage.