Ban on rituals during Muharrum, crackdown on illegal slaughter houses that impacted sale of meat, police atrocities on anti-CAA protestors and now the hijab controversy have made the Shia community in Lucknow give a second thought to their support to the BJP.Lucknow is known to be the nerve centre of the Shias and has a Shia population of about four lakhs.Shias are known to have supported the BJP for decades and more so, after the then UP minister Lalji Tandon resolved the issues over Azadari processions.Because of Shia support, the BJP effortlessly won the Lucknow north, west and central seats that have a sizeable Muslim population.”This is not the BJP we supported over the years. Leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lalji Tandon and Rajnath Singh always reached out to us. The manner in which the police cracked down on Muslim women during the anti-CAA protests was uncalled for. Then, the community was targeted during Ramzan and Moharrum when, citing Covid protocols, restrictions were imposed on us. Hindu festivals were allowed with Covid protocols,” said a senior Shia cleric who did not wish to be named.For Shias, Moharrum, which is a period of mourning, holds immense significance and they resent the curbs that were placed for two consecutive years.
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