PTI, NEW DELHI: Muslims are worried and they need someone to address their concerns, All India Imam Association president Maulana Mohd Sajid Rashidi said, reflecting the sentiments of the minority groups present at a BJP pre-poll programme on Thursday.
Several representatives of minority communities voiced their concerns over incidents affecting certain sections of the society like lynching, saffronisation of education, distortion of historical facts and media trial of Muslim youths arrested in suspected terror cases at the event, ‘Bharat Ke Mann Ki Baat, Modi Ke Saath’, an exercise launched by the party to prepare its manifesto in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“The Muslim community is worried. They have been exploited and now they want somebody to listen to them and address their issues. BJP should pay attention to this.
“Muslim youths who are being caught in connection with suspected terror activities undergo media trial even before being proved guilty. This should stop as it destroys both the lives of these youths and their families. They should be punished if found guilty and the entire community will disown them,” Rashidi said.
Rashidi also said that the government should provide compensation to youths who are acquitted after spending several years in jail as undertrials so that they can live a life of dignity in the society. He said there is a perception among Muslims that the ruling BJP is against the community and doesn’t want it votes nor wants to give them any election ticket.
“This perception should change,” he added.
Father Joseph Manipadam, National Secretary, CBCI Office for Education and Culture, said that the minority communities should feel secure in the country and sought extension of SC status and reservation for Muslims and Christians.
