BJP's new poster boy?

Arif Mohammad Khan's entry into the BJP has created a stir in political circles and among Muslims.

An articulate and vocal leader, Khan will campaign and may even contest from Gujarat. A grassroots leader, he can help the BJP shed its anti-Muslim image, which had been reinforced after the Gujarat pogrom.

Khan's entry is significant for another reason. If he manages to carry the Muslims, with his experience in public life and in government, he can be a valuable asset to the BJP because Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, the Muslim faces of the BJP, simply do not enjoy the stature that Khan does.

Khan says he wants to bridge the gap between Hindus and Muslims by working with the BJP. "By giving unconditional support, I want to surrender myself to the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. I will describe it surrender because I don't see the capability to fight them. The Congress is totally devoid of capabilities. I want to win the confidence of the party that today enjoys the confidence of the majority."

Photo: Ranjan Basu/Saab Press

Also see: The United Colours of India

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