Ahmedabad: Former BJP president LK Advani is on his 6,000-km Bharat Suraksha Yatra, made it a point to shower praise on some of the cricket stars from the minority community.
Citing cricketing role models from the Muslim community like Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel, Advani said it was a matter of great pride that members from the community had made it into the Indian cricket team.
Referring to Munaf Patel, the latest fast-bowling sensation in Team India, Advani said, "He reminds me of the (Bollywood) film Iqbal, where a young deaf and dumb lad from a remote village overcomes all obstacles to become a national cricketer. Though Munaf is not deaf or dumb, but he had managed to reach great heights."
Advani also criticised Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for taking an Osama bin Laden look-alike with him during his elections campaigning in Bihar.
"If you really want a role model then instead of choosing Laden, one should choose Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Sania Mirza and President A P J Abdul Kalam from the minority community," he said.
Urging Muslims not to accept the reservations doled out by the UPA Government, Advani said, "Such reservations will not help the Muslim community in any manner and people who are promoting such reservations are doing disservice to the community. Such minority appeasement will divide India for a second time."
Advani also expressed deep concern about the increasing infiltration from Bangladesh, which was bringing about a demographic change in the region.
"This yatra is meant to educate and train people in politics," Advani said, adding that matters relating to increasing terrorism, minority appeasement and scant regard for the constitution had to be told to the people.
Advani said that he was "very pleased" with the response he got from the people of Gujarat on the first day of the yatra.
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