Narendra Modi's fast: BJP woos muslims
The state unit of BJP has gone into an overdrive to attract as many Muslims as they can for Modi’s fast, in the wake of a Supreme Court breather to the CM in a riot case of 2002.
By Harit Mehta & Yogesh Pareek, TNN | Updated:
AHMEDABAD: Salim Patel, a South Africa-based Gujarati Muslim businessman, recently donated Rs 21 lakh for chief minister Narendra Modi’s pet project, Kanya Kelavani.
Now, 37-year-old Patel’s relatives from Chanchwel village in south Gujarat will attend Modi’s Sadbhavna fast starting Saturday. “We have assured him that we will stay all through the fast,” says Salim’s 60-year-old father-in-law Hanif Patel.
The state unit of BJP has gone into an overdrive to attract as many Muslims as they can for Modi’s fast, in the wake of a Supreme Court breather to the CM in a riot case of 2002. Many see this as a bid to wash off the taint of post-Godhra violence.
With an eye on a larger national role, Modi has been seen cozying up to Muslims, especially the moderate, business-friendly segments like Bohras and Khojas over the last two years.
No wonder, national BJP leaders like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain are flying down along with party stalwarts like L K Advani and Arun Jaitley to support Modi.
Celebrities like musician Ismail Darbar, who recently joined the party, too plan to come. “We have about 200 Muslims elected in local bodies across the state. They all are working hard to get as many people as they can,” said Mahebubali Baba, president of Gujarat BJP’s minority morcha. “Besides, we have got confirmation from a number of religious leaders to attend the event,” he said.
BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani said the party is expecting a large number of Muslims to attend the fast but refrained to give any estimates. Siraj Neki of BJP’s minority cell said, “Over 1,000 Muslims from south Gujarat will join Modi’s fast on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Muslims of Raikhad and Jamalpur areas will cut a cake to celebrate and Modi’s birthday on Saturday. They will also donate 61 bottles of blood to mark the CM’s 61st birthday.
Now, 37-year-old Patel’s relatives from Chanchwel village in south Gujarat will attend Modi’s Sadbhavna fast starting Saturday. “We have assured him that we will stay all through the fast,” says Salim’s 60-year-old father-in-law Hanif Patel.
The state unit of BJP has gone into an overdrive to attract as many Muslims as they can for Modi’s fast, in the wake of a Supreme Court breather to the CM in a riot case of 2002. Many see this as a bid to wash off the taint of post-Godhra violence.
With an eye on a larger national role, Modi has been seen cozying up to Muslims, especially the moderate, business-friendly segments like Bohras and Khojas over the last two years.
No wonder, national BJP leaders like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain are flying down along with party stalwarts like L K Advani and Arun Jaitley to support Modi.
Celebrities like musician Ismail Darbar, who recently joined the party, too plan to come. “We have about 200 Muslims elected in local bodies across the state. They all are working hard to get as many people as they can,” said Mahebubali Baba, president of Gujarat BJP’s minority morcha. “Besides, we have got confirmation from a number of religious leaders to attend the event,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani said the party is expecting a large number of Muslims to attend the fast but refrained to give any estimates. Siraj Neki of BJP’s minority cell said, “Over 1,000 Muslims from south Gujarat will join Modi’s fast on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Muslims of Raikhad and Jamalpur areas will cut a cake to celebrate and Modi’s birthday on Saturday. They will also donate 61 bottles of blood to mark the CM’s 61st birthday.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
Related Articles
Human-centric technology at heart of India's AI ambitions: PM Narendra Modi at Bharat Innovates 20262026-06-14T15:47:10Z- Donald Trump, Narendra Modi look to repair ties in shadow of new US strikes2026-06-12T06:24:58Z
- PM Narendra Modi to chair 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog on June 112026-06-10T09:22:44Z
ADVERTISEMENT
