BJP president Rajnath Singh woos Muslims with offer of apology for mistakes

NEW DELHI: BJP president Rajnath Singh on Tuesday sought to bridge a trust deficit between his party and Muslims by saying that he was ready to apologize for any mistakes committed by the party in the past and urged the community to give the saffron outfit at least one chance.

Singh's remarks immediately sparked speculation that the BJP chief was referring to events like the 2002 Gujarat riots or Babri Masjid demolition. "Try us once. If we don't come up to your expectations, don't look at us ever again," he said at the event 'Modi for PM - Mission 272+ - Role of Muslims'.

According to a PTI report, Singh said, "Please note that whenever, wherever, if there has been any mistake and shortcoming on our part, I assure you that we will apologize to you by bowing our heads."

Singh's political secretary Sudhanshu Trivedi told TOI that Singh sought to address a perception that BJP is anti-Muslim and wanted to counter the impression. "The BJP president said if Muslims feel that wittingly or unwittingly, there have been mistakes on our part, he is ready to make amends," Trivedi said.

Singh's comments, while interpreted by BJP leaders as an emotional pitch at Muslims, also raised a question if the BJP chief was suggesting that the Gujarat riots were a serious weakness in the BJP campaign.

Though BJP leaders said Singh's remarks did not amount to acceptance of culpability for the Gujarat riots and pointed out that the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was exonerated by the courts, the outreach did generate ripples in political circles.

On a similar note, but in less dramatic terms, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said BJP had been pleasantly surprised by the success of minority candidates fielded by it in states like Goa and Rajasthan. He said BJP stressed the principles of equality and security for all citizens