LUCKNOW: BJP ally Anupriya Patel on Monday made it clear that the ideology of her party Apna Dal is different from Hindutva. Emphasizing on making Apna Dal(S) stand for social justice, Anupriya Patel on Monday distanced her party from "Hindutva and all those issues" and said that her party is ideologically different from the BJP. Anupriya Patel told the media three days before the first phase of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh elections, starting on February 10, that Muslim candidates are not untouchables for her party.
"Yes, we are ideologically different from the BJP. People are trying to ask me questions on Hindutva and all those issues, I detach myself from all those issues and my party does not practice religion. We stand up for social justice. That is our ideology. She said that we have always worked for the marginalised sections of society, be it on the streets or in Parliament. And that's our philosophy and our founding principles and we just stick to that. Apna Dal has been an ally of the BJP in the last three elections in Uttar Pradesh - 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 2017 Assembly elections. It has announced its first Muslim candidate this time.
Haider Ali, grandson of senior Congress leader Begum Noor Bano, was the first Muslim candidate announced by the Apna Dal (S). He is contesting against Abdullah Azam Khan, son of senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, from Swar seat. Anupriya Patel said, "I don't know why everyone is looking at a candidate from the point of view of religion. He is a promising young man who is also educated. Replying to a question on not having a single Muslim candidate from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last time, he said his party (Apna Dal) does not see the candidate through the prism of religion. Ali is also the first Muslim candidate for Apna Dal and NDA.
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