OPINION | Vote bank virus: Did appeasement hurt Muslims' interest?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, lashed out at the Congress, alleging that the party was instrumental in spreading "vote bank virus" for 70 years. Modi alleged that the Congress even went to the extent of granting powers to Waqf Boards that were beyond the purview of the Constitution. By doing this, previous Congress governments gave advantage to a handful of religious radicals to make money from Waqf properties, and at the same time forced poor Muslim youths to earn their living by "repairing cycle tyre puncture". Modi promised that the new Waqf Act will play a vital role in uplifting the backward and poor sections of the Muslim community. Modi challenged the Congress party to make a Muslim its president. "If Congress truly cares for Muslims, let it make a Muslim party president and give 50 per cent tickets to Muslims in elections", Modi said. The Prime Minister said that land mafia sharks were taking advantage of the old Waqf Act by selling or renting costly Waqf properties. "The new law will plug all loopholes", Modi promised. Unfazed, Congress leaders hit out at Modi. Congress MP from Saharanpur, UP, Imran Masood said, "The day Congress returns to power, we will abolish this new Waqf law within an hour". Masood asked Muslims to pile up pressure on the government by staging protests against the Waqf Act. Another Congress minister in Jharkhand, Irfan Ansari, said the JMM-led government will not allow the Waqf Act to be implemented in the state. JMM minister Hafizul Hasan said that the new Waqf Act was a direct interference in Islamic Sharia law and for Muslims, Sharia is above the Constitution. Former BJP Chief Minister Babulal Marandi demanded that Hafizul Hasan should be dismissed from the government.

India