India TV Chunav Manch: Zafar Sareshwala, Indian businessman, owner of Parsoli Corporation, and former chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, on Thursday attended the India TV Chunav Manch ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections. A member of the strict Tablighi Jamaat branch of Islam, Sareshwala gained considerable public attention for being a strident supporter and a close confidant of PM Narendra Modi.
A mechanical engineer by training, Sareshwala is considered as an expert in Islamic banking and finance. In 2001, he organised protests in Delhi against the burning of copies of the Qur'an by Hindus.
Sana Khan, another panelist who joined the Chunav Manch, is an Indian businesswoman and former actress. She primarily worked in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu language films before retiring from the industry in 2020.
Sareshwala on communal violence
Zafar Sareshwala talked about the communal violence during religious processions across the country and said to end this communal tension, all Muslims should treat the Hindus during the processions with good hospitality such as cold drinks and garlands. He said that there should be a solution to the ongoing communal tensions.
He said there can’t be a reaction to every action but it can be dealt with silence. Muslims should not be provoked by firecrackers or religious music.
Zubair Goplani on Communal Harmony in India
Another panelist Zubair Goplani said the agenda of the Indian Muslims is not to maintain distance from the Hindus. He said what Hindus think for the country, Muslims also believe in the same way for the growth and development of the country.
Goplani added that no religion teaches about communal violence. However, some people are there from both sides who promote communal hatred.
Sana Khan says attire should not determine religion
To a question on whether the Muslims in hijab or cap feel suffocated within the country, Saiyad Sana Khan said it depends on how to take it. One’s clothes should not identify one’s religion or line of thinking. She added that all should get the freedom to wear clothes and there should not be any restrictions.
Know all about Maharashtra Assembly polls
As the term of the Maharashtra assembly will end on November 26, 2024, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Legislative Assembly elections for Maharashtra, along with Jharkhand. As per the EC announcement, the elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20 and the results will be declared on November 23.
Notably, the Maharashtra assembly comprises 288 members who are directly elected from single-seat constituencies, and this year, the assembly polls are expected to be a two-way fight between the ruling Mahayuti Alliance of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde and NCP-Ajit Pawar, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP-Sharad Pawar, and the Congress.
