Engage with BJP-JD(S), Davangere Muslims told

BJP leader and former IPS officer Bhaskar Rao has criticised the Congress for denying ticket to a candidate belonging to the Muslim community in the upcoming byelections to the Davangere South Assembly Constituency.

Addressing a press conference at the district BJP office here on Monday, Mr. Rao said that although Muslims constitute a sizeable section of voters in the constituency, the Congress has chosen the grandson of the former Minister late Shamanur Shivashankarappa instead of fielding a candidate from the Muslim community.

“The Congress has betrayed Muslims who have supported it for decades,” he said.

Mr. Rao accused the Congress of resorting to family-based politics in the distribution of election ticket, despite projecting itself as sympathetic to minorities.

He called upon members of the Muslim community to reconsider their support for the Congress and instead, to engage with parties such as the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) which will help ensure that their concerns are addressed.

Replying to a question on whether the BJP will field Muslim candidates, Mr. Rao said that the party will provide suitable opportunities and positions to leaders from the community.

He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outreach to Muslim-majority countries noting that he has received civilian honours from some of those nations.

Referring to developments in West Asia, Mr. Rao said that the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran has affected the movement of vessels carrying crude oil and cooking gas near the Strait of Hormuz, leading to supply disruptions and price increases in several countries.

He, however, said that the Union government has maintained active diplomatic communication with Iran and facilitated the passage of oil and LPG vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid high tensions in West Asia.

“There has been no disruption in the supply of domestic LPG cylinders across the country. The BJP-led government at the Centre has managed the situation effectively,” Mr. Rao added.