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Karnataka BJP ready to give poll ticket to Muslims but community has reservations: Minority Commission chairman

After taking charge as Karnataka State Minority Commission chairman, BJP leader Abdul Azeem says BJP has given a Muslim an important post that has the powers of a civil court judge and is equivalent to the rank of a minister. He says BJP is ready to give Muslims tickets to contest elections, but it is the community that has its reservations.

Bengaluru: Accusing Congress of sowing seeds of hatred for the BJP among Muslims over decades, BJP leader and newly appointed Karnataka State Minority Commission chairman Abdul Azeem says the BJP is willing to accommodate Muslims and also represent them, but the community also needs to support its candidate.

Soon after taking charge as chairman on Wednesday, Azeem thanked CM BS Yediyurappa for clearing his name for the coveted post and said, he will ensure that rights of minorities like Muslims, Jains, Christians, Sikhs and others will be safeguarded.

He said that Muslims have come to the realisation that their representation should not be limited to only Congress and that the community should make its presence felt in every party.

After the 2019 Lok Sabha results, Azeem says, the community voted in favour of the BJP too and in by-elections, he believes, over 20% of Muslims will vote for the BJP this time.