KRISHNAGIRI: Minority groups across the state are upset as mainstream political parties including DMK, its ally Congress and AIADMK, having not fielded a single candidate of their community for the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly by-polls. “We had a big hope that the Congress would field a Muslim candidate in Krishnagiri and Theni after Vellore and Thiruvannamalai was not given for our people either by DMK or AIADMK,” S. Syed Rahim said.
The 56-year-old Syed Rahim, head of the Aksha Mazid in Londenpet of Krishnagiri added, “Muslims are remaining economically, socially and educationally backward community. We are not given importance despite our support to the secular parties for many decades.”
Syed while reacting to BJP’s stand on the minority people, he said, “BJP has a firm policy of alienating Muslims from the beginning. We are remembered only at the time of elections.”
Mohammed Ishaq, 72, a retired school headmaster of Veepanahalli in Krishnagiri, endorsing the views of the Jamath head Syed Rahim said, “please check the list of any political party. You cannot find a single minority person fielded as the candidate in our state.”
He added, “no other choice for Muslims except to press NOTA button to give a message that no one should use minorities just as vote-bank; ‘NOTA’ is the best weapon in our hands. Minorities must use it.”
According to Syed Rahim and Mohammed Ishaq, Minorities are not going to lose anything by using NOTA option, but it is to send a message to the political parties having no care for the minorities and exploit them for votes.
