Former Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan asserted that Muslims are also entitled to reservations under the Constitution and expressed hope that an INDIA bloc government, if elected, would grant reservations to Muslims. Hasan argued that if the Constitution provides reservations for Hindu washermen, it should similarly accommodate Muslim washermen.
Speaking with ANI, SP leader ST Hasan said, “If the Indian constitution grants reservation to the Hindu population, then why not the Muslim population? I hope that if the INDIA alliance comes to power, they will amend the constitution and give reservation rights to Muslims too.”
Taking a jibe at PM Modi’s remarks about mangalsutra, Hasan said, “They are targeting Muslims, with only 20 percent of the Hindu population supporting them, while the remaining 80 percent Hindus are with Muslims. Aren’t they citizens of the nation? Don’t they feel bad?”
Addressing the BJP’s allegations that Azamgarh is a terrorist hub, Hasan said, “They are disrespecting Azamgarh and its people. If someone from this city is accused of terrorism in Delhi, it doesn’t necessarily mean the accusations are true.”
Responding to questions about not contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said, “Akhilesh Ji wanted me to contest the elections, but due to some internal politics in the party, I was not given the seat. I am very close to the party and Akhilesh, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have contested the previous elections.”
Notably, polling for the Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh is being held across all seven phases. Voting in the first five phases has already been completed, while the remaining phases are scheduled for May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes for all phases is scheduled for June 4.
In the 2019 polls, the BJP won the majority in the state, securing 62 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats, while ally Apna Dal (S) won two more seats. Mayawati’s BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while her then-alliance partner, Akhilesh Yadav’s SP, settled for just 5 seats. The Congress won only one seat in the state. In the 2014 elections, the BJP swept UP, winning 71 seats, while the Congress could only bag 2.