‘I take PM attack as a compliment, that he is monitoring my election, is afraid of me returning as MP’: Danish Ali

In their rallies, Modi and Mayawati even singled out Danish Ali, though without taking his name. Ali, who had found himself the target of communal slurs by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri on the floor of Parliament in the outgoing House, was expelled by Mayawati after he was seen as inching close to the Congress after the episode. In her speech, Mayawati accused Ali of “betraying” the party and the people of Amroha, the first time she spoke on the issue after his expulsion.

Modi attacked Ali for “turning down” the invite for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony and for objecting to the slogan “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. “Should such a person who does not like to pay gratitude to his motherland be allowed to enter Parliament?” the PM said.

Ali, a joint candidate of the SP-Congress alliance, is facing the BSP’s Mujahid Husain and the BJP’s Kanwar Singh Tanwar in Amroha. While Husain, whose wife is a nagar panchayat member in Ghaziabad district, could cut into the SP-Congress Muslim votes, Tanwar (a Gujjar leader) has a base in Amroha, having won from the seat in 2014 by a margin of 1.58 lakh votes. In 2019, Ali, fighting as a joint candidate of the BSP and SP, had defeated Tanwar by 63,248 votes.

Ali speaks to The Indian Express about the remarks of Modi and Mayawati, their possible impact, and the state of the BSP. Excerpts:

How do you see the PM’s attack on you?

Basically, the Prime Minister and the entire BJP are in trouble because in the 17th Lok Sabha, I was among the few parliamentarians who vexed them. I always tried to show them the mirror when their government and party worked against farmers, women and youth. I was the first among the few who continuously raised their voice. And that was the reason I was abused on the floor of the House by their party people. After that episode, a lot of their MPs and leaders came out and said that Danish Ali always caused the Prime Minister and Home Minister trouble when they came to the House and spoke… exposed them when they introduced anti-people Bills.

That is the reason they are attacking me. It is shameful that the PM who comes from an organisation (the RSS) which did not accept the national flag for 52 years is questioning my patriotism. My forefathers laid down their lives for the freedom struggle.

Why did Mayawati attack you?

People have understood why the BSP did not join the INDIA alliance. I stood for the ideological base of the founder of the BSP (Kanshi Ram). But now, due to various reasons, the present leadership has come under pressure to compromise. People understand that, and they are with me.

The BSP and BJP are (working together) to defeat Danish Ali. Mr Prime Minister is not able to polarise (voters). Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the fourth meeting of the CM in Amroha in two weeks. The BJP’s battery of leaders are coming to Amroha. Why are they so afraid in this seat?

You contested in 2019 as a candidate of the BSP-SP alliance. Now you are contesting as a Congress-SP nominee. What difference do you find between the two alliances?

My ideological ally and ideological commitment are the same. The BSP has gone ahead and helped the BJP. Everybody knows why the BSP is contesting alone… to help the BJP… There is no difference between the BSP and BJP… it’s an open alliance now… The PM’s address and Behenji’s have exposed that they are in a tacit understanding.

Do you see their attacks hurting you in the elections?

I am getting the vote of every community. Muslims are not going to vote for the BSP candidate here. Some good non-Muslim candidates wanted the BSP ticket, and if they had been fielded, the contest might have become triangular. But the BSP leadership decided to field a Muslim candidate with the goal of defeating Danish Ali. But it will be unable to cut into my votes.

… I take it (the PM and Mayawati’s attacks) as a feather in my cap, that the PM is personally monitoring my election. I am among the few people in the country whose entry into the Lok Sabha again makes the PM afraid.

On what issues you are contesting this election?

Saving democracy and the Constitution, and unemployment, these are the issues here. The exam paper leaks are also an issue, apart from some local matters. Now, the Congress’s card (promising 25 guarantees) is (being talked about).