Why @BSYBJP move to call Muslim MLAs to seek their support in taking the Muslim community into confidence is a welcome move. A thread.

BJP, as a principle, has not been giving tickets to Muslim candidates to fight direct elections. Apart from few token RS/LC members, it has no Muslim public representatives at all. It has deliberately chosen to give zero representation to India's largest minority community.

By passing through many legislations which have an adverse impact on Muslims, most notably the recent CAA-NRC-NPR, without giving any representation to Muslims, without consulting them & addressing their concerns, the BJP has fully alienated the community.

The entire BJP ecosystem, using its deeprooted PR machinery, has systematically dehumanised & demonised the Muslim community and made Islamophobic mindset the norm among average Indians of all ages. This, in tandem with government legislation, has made Muslims live with fear.

The recent Delhi pogrom, where many footages showed the law enforcement joining mobs in destroying property belonging to Muslims and beating them up, has furthered the sense of distrust in them about the law enforcement as well.

In Karnataka also, we saw a few video footages of some policemen in Mangaluru talk dehumanisingly of Muslims while carrying out shoot at sight orders during CAA protests. 2 people were also killed there in golibar. Anti CAA protests in Karnataka had been strong and continuous.

Many BJP leaders from Karnataka, including senior leaders who have been cabinet ministers both in the state and Union governments, have made a habit of making Islamophobic statements. Anant Kumar Hegde, Yatnal, Tejasvi Surya, the long list goes on.

Now when Corona has struck, Karnataka government finds itself in a position where it has fully alienated the Muslim community, but still has a responsibility to look after its Muslim community. Thankfully for Karnataka, CM @BSYBJP is a moderate man who does not despise Muslims.

A few local Muslim religious institutions, unfortunately and deplorably, had called their local Muslim communities to boycott and not cooperate with state healthcare and law enforcement authorities in charge of Corona management and quarantine enforcement in the state.

Videos of people abusing and attacking ASHA workers have surfaced all over social media since yesterday. While many rightfully condemned the deplorable incident, it was also shamelessly used as an ammunition to further shame the entire Muslim community.

While the individuals involved in the attack on healthcare workers have to be punished as per law, there is a need for the state to reach out to the Muslim community in the state at large and take them into confidence and ensure compliance and cooperate with government measures.

CM @BSYBJP understands that at a crucial situation like this, it is the right way to go forward. It gives out the right message to the Muslim community that the state's elected leader is with them & talking to MLAs from their community. A confidence building measure!

This is the right approach not only to take the Muslim community into confidence at this juncture, but also to establish a goodwill with the community in the long run, something that @BSYBJP has always done. This sets a good precedent.

As we can see, many BJP supporters are unhappy with this decision of @BSYBJP, and so will most of his colleagues. But, this is the right way and statesmanly way of dealing with the issue. As a grassroots leader with decades of experience, BSY understands this.