Poll Dates Clash With Ramzan: Owaisi Calls It ‘Unnecessary’ Debate

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
Video Producer: Fabeha Syed

The Election Commission of India on Sunday, 10 March, announced the election dates for the 17th Lok Sabha polls which have been divided into seven phases. Polling will begin from 11 April and the results will be declared on 23 May.

As the EC made the announcement, a few Twitter users pointed out that the election dates coincide with the month of Ramzan, which is expected to begin from 5 May and ends on 4 June.

Users raised concerns that the last three phases of polling are being held in a majority of north Indian states or the Hindi belt.

Observation: last 3 phase of elections (May 6, 12 & 19) coincides with Ramzan and are being held in North India only, primarily the Hindi belt, with West Bengal as an exception.

Is it done for purpose, expecting lesser Muslim participation during fasting period in hot summer?

— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) March 10, 2019

Election Dates are strategically fixed to clash with Ramzan to keep Muslims away from Booths.

— Ayaz Mughal (@Ayaz_Mughal) March 11, 2019

Aam Aadmi Party leader Amanatullah Khan levelled allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that this will directly benefit them.

12 मई का दिन होगा दिल्ली में रमज़ान होगा मुसलमान वोट कम करेगा इसका सीधा फायदा बीजेपी को होगा।

— Amanatullah Khan AAP (@KhanAmanatullah) March 10, 2019

Kolkata Mayor and TMC leader Firhad Hakim also raised the issue and said that the elections will cause inconvenience to the people in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, alleging a “conspiracy” to stop voters.

Owaisi Says Controversy Uncalled For

Reacting to the barrage of tweets and reactions, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi told news agency ANI that the whole controversy is “unnecessary” and “uncalled for”. He also requested the political parties to not use the Muslim community and Ramzan for “whatever reasons,” adding that the Muslims will vote on the given election dates.

“Muslims will definitely fast in Ramzan, they go out and lead a normal life, they go to office, even the poorest of the poor will also fast. My analysis is that this month (Ramzan) will lead to more voting percentage because one will be free from all worldly duties.”

Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM Chief

Speaking to CNN-News18, Union Minister VK Singh also said that the EC is not to be blamed for as the month of Ramzan keeps changing and that the polling dates were not chosen deliberately.

‘We Will Walk to Booth and Vote’

Meanwhile, Twitter users said that nothing will stop them from voting during the Lok Sabha elections.

People saying Muslim won’t go out and vote as the month of #Ramzan will be in during elections.
Man I tell you! We will fast, we will starve, even if sun heat sucks all our energy which is left, we will walk to booth and vote, we will make sure Modi is voted out and defeated.

— MOHAMMAD SHADAB (@SHADAB8882) March 11, 2019

Allah will guide the rozadars.
They will use their vote wisely keeping in mind the spirit of Ramzan.
In this holy month good triumphs over evil https://t.co/fEv2CNnnDl

— Rana Safvi رعنا صفوی (@iamrana) March 10, 2019

Roza rakh kar musalman school jaatey hain, exam dete hain, naukri kartey hain. Its not a vacation. Totally absurd to assume muslims don't vote in Ramzan.

This negative assumption is patently illogical and borderline communal. https://t.co/rA4ut4HAXI

— مریم ناصر الوی (@ahleqafas) March 10, 2019

(With inputs from ANI and CNN-News18)