Uttar Pradesh polls: Shia Muslims of Lucknow may not opt for the BJP this time around

Lucknow is known to be the nerve centre of the Shias –– a minority within the Muslim population who constitute about 3-4% of the state’s population. In Lucknow, three seats –– Lucknow north, west and central –– have about 1.5-2 lakh Shia voters collectively. The community has greatly revered former prime minister and Lucknow MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee because of his role in resolving a 20-year old Azadari dispute and allowing religious processions to be taken out during Moharram. They also revere the current two-time MP from the city Rajnath Singh who has upheld this legacy.

However, the same reverence is lacking for the BJP in the state, especially due to some decisions taken by chief minister Yogi Adityanath which were found contentious by them, and the community which voted enthusiastically for the BJP in 2017 (also owing to the ‘Modi wave’) may not extend its support this time.

A burning cause of resentment against the saffron party is the prohibition of rituals during Moharram, including a ban on processions two years in a row, a ban on sermons in the Imambara, etc, citing Covid-19 protocols. Shias, for whom the period of mourning holds immense significance, are upset as they say similar curbs were not placed for other festivals like Holi and Diwali. They also resent the excessive police deployment and alleged intimidation.

“People were not even allowed to sell the tazias and there was immense police terror, even if two people were going for burying the tazia,” said Asnain Agha, a trader near the Husainabad Clock Tower who is a voter of Lucknow North. He says this time, Shias and Sunnis will unite to vote for the Samajwadi Party.

Aqil, a trader near Jauhari Mohalla that falls under Lucknow West, said, “If it is about following Covid-19 protocol, why are no such curbs placed during Holi and Diwali; why were markets allowed to remain open? The Nakhas market remained choc-a-bloc even in Covid-19,” he said. The state had asked rituals to be observed at home but no processions were allowed.

Other reasons like inflation, which has impacted business, were also cited.

Saif Abbas, a prominent Shia cleric and president of the Shia Markazi Chand Committee, while validating the anger of the community, also lamented that if the BJP really wanted their support, they could have tried an outreach but it has not been forthcoming so far. He said both the Congress and the SP were being considered by the community.

“The party cares for every small caste like the Prajapatis and others, and in a similar way, it could have also made an outreach to the Shias and tried to understand our issues. But this was not done which shows how much it cares,” he said.

Saif Abbas’ photo had also come up on the infamous ‘hoarding’ after the anti-CAA riots in Lucknow had gone violent and this too had not gone down well with the community. A police guideline that was circulated last year at the time of Moharram has also played a role. Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi, one of the most influential Shia clerics of the city had raised an objection to the guidelines as it contained “objectionable words and phrases”, and depicted the community in a bad light.

Rajnath Singh on Friday had in a public address in Lucknow West sought to impress that BJP’s welfare measures like free ration and financial aid under the Kisan Samman Nidhi were aimed to benefit all without any discrimination, even as he had accused the SP and the Congress of indulging in the “politics of polarisation”.

“Their allegations are wrong…Rajnath Singh ji has also met some religious leaders. It will be better to consider the works being done at the state and national level while making a choice,” Shrikrishna Lodhi, BJP district president of Lucknow, told ET.