It is hypocritical of the Bharatiya Janata Party to suddenly demonstrate its concern for the Pasmandas, a term which means “those left behind” and refers to Muslims belonging to the Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes. It is hypocritical because Pasmanda Muslims are largely the victims of hate politics patented by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates, including the BJP, and sundry Hindu rightwing groups.

Take Bilkis Bano, who has been in the news because of the state government setting free the 11 who were convicted of gang-raping her and killing her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Bilkis is Ghanchi by caste, as is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the Hindu and Muslims are counted among the OBCs. It is bewildering that the convicts were granted remission of their sentence even as the BJP began courting the Pasmandas.