Rajasthan political leader recites Islamic declaration at poll rally

Rajendra Rathore recently recited the first kalma of Islam at a public gathering in Pithisar village while campaigning for his daughter-in-law, Kanika Singh. Kanika is contesting from ward 23 for the Churu Zila Parishad polls, while her husband Parakram Rathore is running from ward 39. Rathore told the crowd that there is only one God, stating Khuda ek, Bhagwan ek, before reciting the kalma to loud cheers. He also quoted Mahatma Gandhi's prayer hymn and a Hindi devotional couplet about humanity and caste. Rathore stated that in his long public life, he has never faced allegations of dishonesty and has only spread humanity and love rather than hate. Kanika Singh also greeted people with an Assalamalaikum at another gathering. These comments are seen as aimed at the local electorate, which includes Kayamkhani Muslims, ahead of the fourth and final phase of Rajasthan's Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections across 25 districts on Saturday. State BJP president Madan Rathore responded by saying that what was recited was not actually the kalma, adding that people use the word without knowing it properly. He also mentioned that replying to a greeting like Salamalaikum is normal and not a sin. Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi criticised the move, stating that the opposition party's ideology divides society and that they do not give tickets to minority candidates in the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha.

Context

Rajendra Rathore is a prominent political figure who won seven consecutive MLA elections between 1990 and 2023, starting as a Janata Dal winner before representing the BJP. Local body elections in rural areas often see candidates engaging diverse community groups to secure voter support in closely contested local wards.