OMKAR DATTATRAY
The opposition alliance bloc of INDIA including congress has stooped too low and has now found new weapon called vote Jihad to stop the Modi juggernaut from again occupying power at the centre the third time in succession. The opposition parties like congress ,SP,BSP,JDU and other constituents of the INDI alliance are making every efforts to obstruct the BJP to win the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 and now the congress and SP in particular are using new tool to defeat the BJP and this time they have gone to the extreme and are employing the new tool of vote jihad to counter the mighty BJP. The SP and congress are openly saying and inciting the Muslim voters to do vote Jihad so that the Sanghi government will not come again to power as they say that otherwise the minorities will not be safe in India and thus they tell the minority voters to revolt against the BJP through vote Jihad and according to the opposition bloc ,vote Jihad is the only tool to keep the BJP away from power. Thus the opposition parties are going to extreme and are advocating vote Jihad to frustrate and defeat the BJP. Maria Alam ,congress veteran Salman Khurshid’s niece ,appealed for ”vote jihad”, terming it a necessity in the current political situation to counter the ruling BJP government which she calls the Sanghi government. Maria Alam ,urges vote jihad in elections .She has said ,vote jihad is necessary to counter BJP government.BJP condemns Maria’s remarks and seeks action by the Election Commission .A case was lodged against Samajwadi Party leader Maria Alam after she appealed to the people to practice ”vote jihad” in the Lok Sabha elections Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad ,Alam said, ”Together do vote jihad ”with intelligence ,without being sentimental and with silence .As we can only do vote jihad to drive away this Sanghi government .It is time to join hands ,otherwise this Sanghi government will succeed in wiping our existence. ”Maria was campaigning in support of INDIA bloc candidate Naval Kishore Shakya Kaimganj .”People say that the constitution and democracy are under threat .But I say that insaniyat (humanity ) is under threat .Now there is an attack on’ insaniyat’ .If you want to save the country ,its beauty and ganga-jammni -composite culture ,then vote very intelligently without getting influenced by anyone ”,Alam is heard saying in a video from the event .An FIR was lodged against Maria Alam and Salman Khurshid by Farrukhabad police soon after the video went viral .Both leaders were charged under IPC SECTIONS 188,295 A ,and violating the Model Code of Conduct .Notably ,Salman Khurshid was present at the poll event as the chief guest .When asked about the remarks made by his niece ,Khurshid said he avoids using such words because their literal meaning is misinterpreted .”Jihad means to fight against a situation .Her intention must have been to carry out vote jihad to protect the constitution,”news agency PTI quoted khurshid as saying Meanwhile BJP took strong objection to Maria Alam’s remarks ,BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya ,while sharing the video of the event on X ,said that” Muslims need to be saved from Muslim leaders if they have to progress .””Shaming Muslims for supporting a non-Muslim is a recipe for building an Islamic Caliphate .And congress claims to be secular ,”Malviya tweeted .”If an educated Salman Khurshid’s extended family is so radicalized ,one can imagine the plight of ordinary Muslims .This is not to suggest that Salman Khurshid is any better ,but he does manage to hide his bigotry behind the glib talk,’ ‘he said.BJP spokesman Shehazad Poonawalla also lashed out at the INDIA bloc over the Alam’s remarks and sought action from the ECI.”INDI Alliance says elections need vote -votebank Jihad .We consider elections to be a pious festival ,they take it as Jihad .We request Janta support ,they seek Jihadi support. First Jihadi’s ke Saath SP, Congress RJD ,etc ,now they do Jihad Ki Baat .From Muslim league manifesto to Muslim league mindset and manifestation. Should ECI not act on this”? Poonawalla tweeted. The vote Jihad controversy sparks fly in election campaigns. Maria Alam has sparked controversy at an election rally in Farrukhabad while campaigning for the Samajwadi party She urged Muslims to vote strategically and quietly .advocating for the removal of what she termed a Sanghi government In her statement ,Maria Alam emphasized the importance of Muslims voting smartly without emotional attachment ,aiming to overthrow the ruling government .Additionally ,she called for a social of Muslims supporting the BJP candidate ,Mukesh Rajput further escalating tensions .The presence of top leaders from both congress and Samajwdi party at the rally underscores the significance of Maria Alam’s remarks .However her statements have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP ,which accuses the opposition INDIA Alliance of engaging in polarizing politics .Prime minister Narendra Modi has condemned the alleged Muslim appeasement by the congress ,accusing them of diverting quota meant for SC’s ,ST’s and OBC’s to garner votes from Muslim community .In response ,leaders from the congress and India alliance have defended Mmaria Alam’s statements ,asserting that seeking a change of government through democratic means is legitimate .They argue that the BJP’s attempt to demonize the term ”Vote Jihad” is unwarranted .As the election progresses into its remaining phases ,the term vote jihad has become another point of contention providing the BJP with ammunition to target opposition alliance. The INDIA Alliance is once again in backfoot after SP leader Maria Alam urged for ”vote jihad’ ‘during her campaign in UP .She said that only vote jihad can drive away the Sanghi government .UP police filed an FRI after her speech went viral. A case has been filed against Senior congress leader Salman Khurshid and his niece Maria Alam Khan ,a SP leader ,over an appeal she made at a public meeting on Monday for ”vote jihad ”in support of the INDIA bloc candidate from Farrukhabad Lok Sabha constituency .The meeting ,attended by Khurshid and his wife Louise Khurshid saw the controversial and extreme remarks by the SP leader Maria Alam which sparked the row and the political parties both of the NDA/BJP and the opposition bloc India should adhere to the model code of conduct and not indulge in extreme remarks like Vote Jihad which has been seen in UP and it should stop in the interest of transparent ,free and fair elections.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist).
