One year of rule has cleared misapprehensions of Muslims: BJP

NEW DELHI: NDA government's one year of "unbiased rule" has removed the "misapprehensions" of Muslim community, BJP Minority wing head Abdul Rasheed Ansari has claimed.

He cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent meeting with Muslim leaders and the "rise" in BJP membership from minority communities.

"Prior to the 2014 elections, attempts were made to create fear among the minority communities. Our rivals had already created the misapprehensions about BJP. But, in his one year of rule and unbiased work with the aim of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas', Modi has cleared all these misapprehensions," Ansari told PTI in an interview.

Rasheed said Bharatiya Janata Party has done better work for minorities than the previous Congress-led UPA government.

He said "If you look at the work done by this government for the minority communities, you would know it is better than the previous regime. They would only talk about issues but Modi government believes in working. And, resultantly we have seen a large number of people from the Muslim community also join BJP."

Referring to Modi's recent meeting with 30 Islamist leaders, Rasheed said "this is a good beginning. The PM has earlier also met Muslim leaders and Christian leaders. His meetings are symbolic that the government is open for all."

Modi, during his recent meeting with Muslims leaders, had assured them that his government will do all needful for the community.

The Minority Morcha of the BJP has registered over 30 lakh new members during its recent membership drive, Rasheed claimed, adding however, it was difficult to give a break-up of this number in terms of community.

"Our wing (minority wing) has enrolled over 30 lakh people to BJP fold. But it is not possible to say how many of them belong to Muslim or Christian or other communities," he said.