Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to the BJP cadre to work for the uplift of the marginalised or Pasmanda Muslims has set off hectic activity among the community’s leaders. Many Pasmanda leaders are willing to give the BJP a chance though some want the Prime Minister’s words to be backed up by action. Door-to-door campaigns, padayatras across Uttar Pradesh-Bihar districts and seminars are all being used as tools for possible amelioration.
Hoping for better employment opportunities and social mobility for those lagging behind among the Muslim community, the Pasmanda leaders feel Mr. Modi’s call to embrace low caste Muslims should be taken seriously. Stressing that though there is no caste system in Islam, there is definite caste differentiation among Indian Muslims, they want the benefits of development to percolate down to “the poorest of the poor” in the community.
