To counter Modi,RJD to visit Bihar Muslim belts

The campaign in Muslim belts is likely to conclude by October 27,which,political experts said,could be the “cut-off date for beginning of polarization of votes”.

RJD principal general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Ramkripal Yadav said: “Laluji will not visit these places,senior leaders Iliyas Hussain,M A Fatmi,Abu Qai-sar,Anwar Ahmed and Gulam Gous will lead the teams.” He said the campaign was to “clear confusion among Muslims” created by the JD(U).

“How can the JD(U) claim to be secular after partnering BJP for 17 years? We will expose its pseudo-secular credentials. There has been a spurt in communal tension,” he said.

Sources said the RJD,which got a majority of the Muslim vote in recent elections,wants to “woo back minority” with the JD(U) eying its vote bank after the split with the BJP. Iliyas Hussain will lead a team to the minority belts in Patna,Bhojpur,Buxar,Rohtas,Kaimur,Aurangabad,Gaya,Arwal,Jehanabad and Nalanda. Fatmi will go to Samastipur,Darbhanga,Madhubani,Sitamarhi,Muzaffarpur and Sheohar.

Former Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Council Ghulam Gous will visit Vaishali,Saran,Siwan,Gopalgan,Bagaha,Betia and Motihari,Anwar Ahmad Begusarai,Khagaria,Purnia,Kisanganj,Katihar,Araria,Supaul,Madhepura and Saharsa and Abu Qaisar Lakhisarai,Shelhpura,Jamui and Bhagalpur.

The JD(U),however,said it won’t react to Modi like the RJD. Party national spokesman K C Tyagi said: “There is a qualitative difference between the RJD and us. We cannot resort to Muslim politics. We started opposing the politics of Modi when we adopted a resolution in our Delhi national council.”