Make your own choice, Bareilly's dargah heads tell voters

BAREILLY: Clerics of over 250 dargahs in the city have been backing one party or another in the Lok Sabha elections but heads of two prominent shrines, Dargah Ala Hazrat and Khanquah-e-Niyaziya, have left it to followers to make their own choice.
The religious leaders say people should vote for the party which will work of the progress of the country, rather than voting for a candidate belonging to a particular caste and religion.
At Dargah Ala Hazrat, Maulana Akhtar Raza Khan, who is the oldest person in the shrine, and the Sajjadanasheen (hereditary administrator) Maulana Subhan Raza Khan alias Subhani Miyan ask followers to apply their mind while voting.
Public relation officer of Subhani Miyan, Nasir Qureshi told TOI, “Sajjadanasheen wants people to vote as per their own reasoning. A number of Barelvi Muslims across the country are associated with Subhani Miyan and Maulana Akhtar Raza Khan and they follow the appeals made by the duo. Though other members are advising followers of dargah to vote for some particular party, it has very less impact on the public.”
Endorsing similar views, manager of the 300-year-old Khanquah-e-Niyaziya shrine and younger brother of Sajjadanasheen, Shabbu Miyan, said, “Politicians use religious places to create an environment of hatred in society. Instead of concentrating on progress of the country, these leaders focus only on their caste.”
He added, “Many clerics have been shifting their support from one to another. They strike a deal with the politicians and play with the feelings of their followers.”
Among those openly endorsing certain parties are Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan and Maulana Tasleem Raza Khan, who are supporting BSP, while Maulana Mannan Raza Khan alias Mannani Miyan is asking people to vote for Congress.
Asserting that there is nothing wrong with “advising followers”, Mannani Miyan said, “As my followers are present across the country, it is my duty to advise them.” Similarly, Maulana Tasleem Raza Khan said, “It is only BSP which can defeat communal forces in the state, and so I have asked Muslims to give their votes to it.” There are around 40% Muslim voters in Rohilkhand region.
Nadeem Qureshi, a political observer, said, “The public has become more aware and educated voters are not going to fall into the trap of these religious leaders. Only the rural voters, who get emotional, will vote as per the appeals of the clerics.”