After Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, it was his deputy, Lal Kishenchand Advani's, turn to woo Muslims on Wednesday.
Addressing a group of 300-odd
Muslims who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi, Advani said his government's efforts to establish peaceful relations with Pakistan will reduce tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India.
"The origin of all problems between Hindus and Muslims lies in the Partition...these [differences] grew when we had three-four wars with Pakistan. The most effective way of reducing tensions between Hindus and Muslims is by reducing tensions between India and Pakistan," the deputy prime minister said.
Promising better education and employment opportunities for Muslims, Advani said: "For us every citizen of this country is a human being and his prosperity, education and development is of concern to us."
He said the feel good factor that one often talks of these days will become more enduring only when the country will manage to break the shackles of backwardness.
Urging Muslims to be beware of 'vote bank peddlers', Advani said: "I am happy that it were the Muslims who first protested against a state government [Uttar Pradesh] decision to close government schools and colleges at noon on Fridays.