BJP to mobilise minorities' support for K'taka electionS

Bangalore, Jan 14 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will mobilise minorities to support the party in a large way in the coming elections to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, BJP Minority Morcha National President Shahnawaz Sharief said today.

Addressing mediapersons here, he said a huge rally of minorities would be held in the State next month. For the first time in Karnataka, over 35 members belonging to the Muslim community got elected on a BJP ticket to various Municipalities and City Corporations in the recently held elections, he claimed.

''Muslims are gradually realising that they are being treated as a mere vote bank by the Congress and other parties and now looking towards the BJP,'' he added.

Expressing confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would come back to power at the Centre in the next elections, he said efforts were being made to rope-in all the former NDA partners before elections.

Mr Sharief said BJP had done well in the recently held elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as minorities also supported the party.

Criticising the Congress on Sachar Committee Report, Mr Sharief said ''Congress ia silent on Sachar Committee recommendations now as it failed to generate enthusiasm among minorities which is reflected in the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.'' Mr Sharief was here to participate in the State Executive meeting of the party's Karnataka Minority Morcha.

UNI MV MSP RSA RN1854