Exclusive Interview of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is the Muslim face of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a party general secretary and a spokesperson. Even his critics admit that he has made a niche for himself.

Spoke to Mr. Naqvi at length on what it was like to be Muslim in the BJP, on whether he had any doubts when the Gujarat riots occurred, and how far the party has been successful in attracting Muslims.

You are the Muslim face of the BJP. How comfortable do you feel in the party?

From the time I joined the BJP in 1986 and today, Zameen asman ka pharak hai (there is a big difference). I feel more comfortable in the BJP now.





There was confusion earlier. Muslims felt this government would be a Hindu sarkar. That perception has been demolished. I'm not trying to say that the BJP is now a hero for Muslims. But, from villain to central role ... Muslims are beginning to think about the BJP's merits and de-merits.

What about the Gujarat riots. Did you wonder which way the party was going? Did you have any doubts?

No. My views were the same as those of the Prime Minister, Advaniji or Venkaiah Naidu. What happened was shameful and inhuman, and there can be no justification ... during the earlier Congress regimes more than 30,000 communal riots took place over 40 years. There was no justification then, no justification for Gujarat now.

I would like to say that if Godhra had not happened and if the riots after Godhra had not taken place, the BJP's regime would have been neat and clean vis-à-vis communal riots. When such incidents took place during the Congress regime, its so-called secular image remained intact. But in the case of the BJP there is this mahaul (atmosphere), our governments have to be more cautious and vigilant.

By a negotiated settlement of the Ayodhya dispute, does the BJP mean Muslims should surrender unconditionally all claims to the disputed site?

The BJP view on a negotiated settlement is clear-cut. Both communities want the Ram temple to be built in Ayodhya.

I am talking about the piece of land on which the Babri Masjid stood.

A negotiated settlement would be better than a resolution through a court verdict, but fears and doubts in the minds of both sides would have to be assuaged ... This dispute can be resolved only by a BJP Government. No other party can settle the dispute. I cannot say anything about the possibility of accepting a temple site outside the disputed area. Negotiations are going on, talks have moved forward. Saying anything now would lead to another controversy.