AMU Students' Union Prez rallies behind BSP, says SP has let down the Muslims

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has always played a significant role in determining who the Muslims of Aligarh will vote for.

And this time, the university has decided to rally its forces behind Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) instead of the Samajwadi Party (SP).

This major shift in political support is due to many factors, explains AMU Student Union president Faizul Hasan.

Speaking to Catch News Faizul Hasan said, "We supported the Samajwadi Party during the last Vidhan Sabha elections in 2012 because we felt that the party had many clauses in support of Muslims in their manifesto. But in the last five years, Muslims in Uttar Pradesh have been let down."

"We blame BJP for communalising the polls, we blame them for the Godhra riots, but under the Samajwadi Party in the last 5 terms, we have seen many such incidents. From Muzaffarnagar riots to the Dadri lynching, to the attack on AMU students during peaceful protests - the law and order situation in the state has completely failed. Samajwadi Party cannot be brought back," Hasan explained.

What is interesting is that Hasan feels that the alliance with the Congress will not prove to be beneficial for the Samajwadi Party at all.

"Congress has no existence in Uttar Pradesh. Allying with them is not going to help the Samajwadi Party at all. Muslims will not vote for Congress. Their role in the Babri Masjid demolition is known to all," Hasan said.

Their support to Mayawati, Hasan said, is based on the promise that Muslims will be protected and supported under the BSP rule.

"Muslims are the ones who clearly don't have any option left. We don't have a Muslim party that will support us. In the end, we have to choose a party that is least harmful for our community," Hasan said.

Edited by Jhinuk Sen