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Journalism of Courage
With the BJP set to launch a sustained attack on its former ally from next week through public meetings in 141 Assembly segments from where the JDU contested in the last assembly elections,the JDU has decided to launch a counter-offensive by calling a meeting of Muslims here on July 1 to target Narendra Modi.
The meeting has been called by the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mehaz an apolitical forum run by JDU Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar. Sources said that it has been decided that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi,who was recently anointed BJP campaign committee chairman,will be targeted at the meeting.
AIPMM chairman Ali Anwar told The Sunday Express : We are not just against Hindu fundamentalism but also against Muslim fundamentalism. But this time,we will surely target BJP for trying to impose Narendra Modi on the country. After all,we have to expose the BJPs designs as we snapped ties with it on the Modi issue alone.
Asked if the JDU has fallen in a trap to invoke the Modi factor every time after the alliance split,Anwar said: It is the BJP that started it. AIPMM,in any case,organises such functions every year at different places. It is true that we will be more focused this time in our attack on a divisive force being brandished by BJP.
Anwar said the meeting would give a clarion call of pasmanda jagao,desh bachao. He said OBC Muslims account for 80 per cent of the Muslim population in Bihar. Seventeen per cent Muslims are concentrated in Kisanganj,Purnia,Araria,Bhagalpur,East Champaran,West Champaran,Darbhanga and Madhubani. Anwar,however,said all Lok Sabha segments have sizeable population of OBC Muslims,which has 27 caste groups.
The meeting will also send a broader message of camaraderie between Hindus and Muslims.
BJP national spokesperson and Bhagalpur MP Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said,The JDU must not be under the illusion that it has been the champion of Muslim cause. We will expose their brand of pseudo secular politics by calling a bigger meeting of Muslims very soon.
