Elections 2019 when BJP praises Islam

When BJP was contesting the elections 2014 it said it does not want a single vote from the Muslim minority, but during the coming elections 2019, their tone has changed. Now they talk about Muslims and the Holy Quran.

After winning the elections in 2014 the BJP stalwarts were saying that they are in power just because of the Hindu majority. During the Uttar Pradesh election in 2017 BJP did not give a single ticket for the State Assembly to Muslim minority. Though, Uttar Pradesh has highest number of Muslims. This resulted that they lost the seat of Ghazipur, which happens to be the constituency of Yogi Adityanath the present Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

Now, when the Lok Sabha Election 2019 is just round the corner all the parties are trying their level best to woo the voters. BJP the Hindu hardliner party which has always opposed the Muslims has changed its tone.

All the BJP members have been talking ill about the largest minority in India i.e. Muslims. They had Ram Temple issue in their 2014 manifesto, but Lord Ram is still waiting for the construction of His temple. Most of the pending cases of riots which were reasons from Muslim genocide have been solved and all the accused of these riots have been acquitted during the five years of BJP rule in India.

It is surprising that these hardliners are now talking about Islam in a positive manner. They are praising the Holy Quran. During the visit to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on March 1, 2019, delivered a speech praising Islam as a religion of Peace. It is shocking when all the other members are spreading venom against the Muslims she has taken opposite angle. Is this the reason why UAE has bestowed the highest civilian award on Narendra Modi!

Excerpts of the speech of Sushma Swaraj at OIC:

Excellencies and your Highness!

 Terrorism and extremism bear different names and labels. It uses diverse causes. But in each case, it is driven by distortion of religion, and a misguided belief in its power to succeed. The fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion. It cannot be! Just as Islam literally means peace, none of the 99 names of Allah mean violence. Similarly, every religion in the world stands for peace, compassion and brotherhood.

 There is a verse in the Holy Quran which says La Ikrah fiddeen - Let there be no compulsion in religion. 

There is another Surah Al Hujurat which says:
"O Mankind! We created you from a single pair of male and female,and made you into nations and tribes,so that you may know one another,not that you may despise one another”.

Sushma Swaraj delivering a speech at OIC meet (courtesy Rajya Sabha TV)

Whether it is the elections 2019 that has made the BJP change its tone or the hardliners who have not been able to construct the Ram Temple as per their promise have gone soft. Or, they have now understood that Islam talks about peace and the terrorists have nothing to do with religion?

Disclaimer: These views are solely of the author.