New Delhi, June 18
In a sharp political exchange, Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari questioned the timing and intent behind Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s recent outreach to the Pasmanda Muslim community, accusing the party of opportunism ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Ansari, who hails from the Pasmanda community, slammed Akhilesh Yadav’s sudden concern for Backward Muslims, asking why the SP had remained silent for so long on issues concerning the community.
“Why is the Samajwadi Party suddenly remembering the Pasmanda community now? Why are they now concerned about Backward Muslims?†the BJP leader asked.
“I want to ask one question, can anyone show even a single statement made by a Samajwadi Party leader in support of the Pasmanda community?†Ansari added.
Ansari also used the occasion to launch a broader attack on the Opposition alliance, targeting the INDIA bloc, of which the SP is a major member.
“The INDIA alliance has proven to be a failed experiment. It is like a sinking ship, and one by one, its passengers have started abandoning it. From day one, we had said that the INDIA bloc is a weak structure built solely on personal political interests, and its collapse was inevitable. As soon as the elections began, internal conflicts became evident,†he said.
The remarks come a day after Akhilesh Yadav addressed a press conference in Lucknow where he tried to consolidate support among marginalised Muslim communities, particularly the Pasmanda and weaver communities. He claimed that these groups were now part of the SP’s framework of PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, Alpasankhyak).
“No matter who the victim is, the Dalit, deprived, and the poor are part of the PDA. I am happy that the Pasmanda Muslim Samaj has joined the fold today,†Yadav said.
He added that the ‘P’ in the PDA also includes the 'Pasmanda Samaj', signalling the party’s intent to broaden its social coalition.
Yadav further announced that the SP will prioritise issues of the weaver community, predominantly Pasmanda, in its manifesto for the 2027 Assembly polls.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's election season again and suddenly everyone remembers the marginalized communities. This political opportunism is so predictable! Why can't parties work for all communities consistently instead of just before elections? 🤦â€â™‚ï¸
As someone from UP, I've seen how all parties use caste and community for votes. The Pasmanda issue is genuine, but politicizing it like this helps no one. Development should be the real agenda, not vote bank politics.
Interesting how both BJP and SP are talking about Pasmanda Muslims now. While Ansari has a point about timing, let's not forget BJP also discovered this community only recently. The entire political class needs to do better.
Instead of criticizing each other, why don't both parties show what they've actually done for Pasmanda Muslims? Empty rhetoric won't help the community. We need concrete policies and implementation.
The PDA strategy seems like SP's desperate attempt to stay relevant. But will this actually translate into better lives for these communities? UP needs development, not more divisive politics.
While the timing is questionable, at least some attention is coming to Pasmanda issues. But this shouldn't be just about elections - their problems need year-round focus. Hope this starts a meaningful discussion.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.