New Delhi, 12 Feb 2015: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind today congratulated Aam Aadmi Party and termed its historic victory in Delhi Assembly elections as a strong democratic reply to politics of hatred. “We commend the young political outfit for fighting the elections on issues of common people. The uniqueness of AAP campaign was that it addressed common people without flashing the card of caste, class or creed. The people have rejected the politics based on hatred and division of society,” said Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Omari, Ameer (National President) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind while addressing a press conference at the Jamaat headquarters here in Delhi on Thursday.

Jamaat leader said the main reasons of BJP’s defeat in Delhi are the arrogance that had crept into the party and its leaders after its massive victory in Lok Sabha elections in May last year, neglect of the development promises that BJP and prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had made during the elections campaign and resorting to divisive and hate politics.

“The success of AAP is a strong democratic reply to politics of hatred. AAP has won 67 seats while the BJP has managed to win just three seats in the 70-member Assembly. The BJP had won the General Elections last year on promises of development and welfare of all. But the big victory, it seems, made the party and its leaders arrogant. They put the poll promises and real issues on the back burner and launched hate campaigns targeting minorities in the name of Love Jihad and Ghar Wapsi. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi did not heed to the appeals of civil society and opposition parties to rein in the hateful and divisive campaigns. Now the massive victory of AAP has proved that majority of the people do not like the policies and attitude of BJP. After getting success in four state elections after the General Elections, BJP and its leaders were thinking they are now invincible, a wave is blowing in their favor and no one can stop them but the Delhi election results have belied it,” said Jamaat leader adding that the Delhi results have given them “an opportunity to rethink about their policies and attitudes, we hope that they would do it honestly.”

Jamaat has expressed hope the AAP government will address common issues of the people including the minorities. It also sought AAP’s special attention on the neglected Muslim pockets of Delhi.

“The new government of AAP with overwhelming majority will address the issues of common people such as employment, health, education and eliminate corruption. It will ensure justice to all sections of the society, ensure peace and hormony and make effective steps for protection of weaker sections including minorities and women. Specific issues of Muslims such as safety, security, law and order, victimization of Muslims in the name of terrorism should be addressed seriously. The Muslim pockets of Delhi are relatively more neglected, the new government should give special attention to them in regards to education, health and economy,” Jamaat leader said.

In response to a question, Jamaat leader said he was a bit concerned at the absence of Muslims’ representation in the party.

“AAP has not talked about any specific issue of Muslims and problems of Muslim-dominated areas. There is not much Muslim representation in the front row of AAP,” said Jamaat leader.

The press conference was also attended by other top leaders of Jamaat including Secretary General Nusrat Ali, and Secretaries Mohammad Salim Engineer and Mohammad Ahmed.