As the historic city of Agra gears up for the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the Muslim community here is voicing its concerns and aspirations. Many feel that while the BJP government has made strides in certain areas, there is still a long way to go, particularly when it comes to addressing the pressing issues of education and employment opportunities for the minority community. They believe that the government needs to prioritise and invest in quality education and skill development programmes that can open doors for better job prospects. With a significant Muslim population, Agra's vote could be a crucial factor in determining the political landscape of the region. As the campaigns intensify, the community hopes that their voices will be heard, and their concerns addressed by the contesting parties.
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#LokSabhaPolls #LokSabhaElection2024 #24KiChaupal #Agra #LokSabhaChunav2024
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00:00All right, so another city, another phase of elections, the third phase of looks about
00:062024 elections is going to be underway and we are in Agra, especially in the fort area,
00:11the Agra Fort area, the Taj Mahal area of Agra, where not just the local residents,
00:17but also the foreigners have a lot of say when it comes to the upkeep of the city.
00:22Today, we are going to speak to the Muslim community here who have been residing here
00:29for traditions and long time and their stay here has also shaped the city a lot.
00:59Aslam Qureshi, I am the chairman of the Islamic Local Agency.
01:06What can we expect from the government?
01:10There is no hope from the government.
01:14The condition of the Muslims in the whole of India is such that they have done it in
01:22such a way that either I go here or I go there.
01:29By calling them Hindu-Muslim, they have created a gap between Hindus and Muslims.
01:38Who will fill it?
01:41Who can fill it?
01:45You and I, going to the same wedding, coming, doing business, having a relationship with each other.
01:56They were creating a gap in everything in this way.
02:01This gap should not be there in politics.
02:05By calling you Hindu-Muslim in this way, you are destroying people's homes.
02:11You are killing innocent people.
02:14What is this?
02:16This is our democracy.
02:19This has never happened in democracy.
02:22Tell me, the Chief Minister of Delhi was put in jail.
02:26One Chief Minister also put others in jail.
02:31This should not have happened.
02:35A few days ago, the Prime Minister also said that Congress has taken everything from you,
02:40they are infiltrators and they want to give a particular society to the Muslim society.
02:45Do you think that as the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's saying that the Muslim society is infiltrators,
02:51do you think this is very different?
02:54He is sitting on a very responsible post.
02:57He is the king of India.
03:00If he says this, then it does not suit him.
03:04He should see only one thing, either Hindu or Muslim.
03:09We are all his subjects.
03:11That is what the constitution says.
03:13We are all his subjects.
03:15When the king will say such a thing, then what will the subjects do?
03:19Absolutely.
03:20Thank you very much for talking to us, Mr. Qureshi.
03:23Please tell us with your introduction.
03:26Mr. Qureshi said it in very clear words.
03:30He said it right.
03:32Hindu-Muslim, Hindu-Muslim.
03:34This should not happen.
03:36We all live together, eat and drink together.
03:39This should not happen that the Prime Minister of the country is doing such a thing.
03:43This is not right.
03:44How much difference has there been compared to before in election issues?
03:48There has been a lot of difference in election issues.
03:51There has been a lot of difference in election issues.
03:56This should not happen.
03:58Yes, yes, yes.
04:00We have some other participants also.
04:04We are discussing here that what does the Muslim community think about the elections on 7th May?
04:11And what is the reaction to what the government has said so far?
04:16See, what the government has said so far and what it has done, there is a difference between the earth and the sky.
04:21The government has said a lot, but it has done the opposite.
04:25For example, on the land of Agra, Modi Ji had promised in 2014 that the airport will be given to you.
04:29He took the airport and took the jewellery.
04:31Why did he take the jewellery?
04:32He took the jewellery because it was the land of jewellery.
04:34It was the land of jewellery.
04:35The people of BJP bought it.
04:37Today, they have become rich.
04:38Now, the airport has to be built there.
04:40Here, they talked about Bairaj, but they did not get Bairaj.
04:42They talked about the stadium, but they did not get the stadium.
04:44Whereas, Agra is a city of international level.
04:46In Agra, the Taj Mahal and the Lalgalej earnings are invested in the whole of Uttar Pradesh.
04:50So, if you invest the money of Agra in Agra, what is wrong in that?
04:53So, he has cheated the people of Agra.
04:55Along with that, he has cheated the people of the whole country.
04:58Yesterday, he opened a case in the name of Covid vaccine.
05:02He got the whole country vaccinated in the name of Covid vaccine in a court in England.
05:05The company that made it says that there are shortcomings in it.
05:08Because of which, people in the country are getting brain hemorrhage and heart attack.
05:11Who is responsible for all these deaths?
05:13I appreciate your emotions here.
05:16It is often said that we are coming from Karnataka, we went to Manpuri.
05:19We talked to people there and talked to people here.
05:22They also talk about the UP model.
05:24They say that whatever has happened is because of development.
05:26Roads have been built. How will it be seen again?
05:28Didn't the roads have been built in the last 70 years?
05:30In the last 70 years, when the country was free, the bullock cart used to run.
05:34Today, the motor car is running. So, Modi ji has made it.
05:36The metro train is already running.
05:38The metro train that runs in Agra is the project of Akhilesh Yadav.
05:40What is the project of Modi ji? The roads were already built.
05:43It is the responsibility of the government.
05:44You will do something.
05:45Or will you sit on a table and learn to cook?
05:48Yogi ji said that he will build roads in 90 days.
05:51I will show you thousands of such roads in Agra.
05:53In which there are two or three pits.
05:55So, what have these people done?
05:56They have managed the media.
05:58They have sat and talked.
06:00And by managing the media, whatever the people of the country wanted, the media showed it.
06:04Even now, I tell you one thing.
06:06I cannot believe that whatever I am saying, you will show it.
06:08You will also edit it and show it.
06:11So, so much truth is definitely in the digital media.
06:13That we must show what you said.
06:16But thank you very much for talking to us.
06:18Thank you.
06:19I would like to know from you.
06:21As brother said just now.
06:24Modi government was not so serious about Agra.
06:28Whether it is about the stadium or the airport.
06:33It seems that he is trying to put aside a Muslim society.
06:36Is this what is seen?
06:39The reality is something else.
06:41And the construction is something else.
06:43Okay.
06:44Since 2014, when Modi came to power.
06:49He has been talking nonsense.
06:51Okay.
06:52And in those words, he said that 15 lakh people will get it.
06:55And he closed the notes.
06:58And this black money will come out.
07:01What was the result?
07:02Very bad results came out.
07:05And you did the lockdown.
07:07As you just said that thousands of laborers were forced to walk on the streets.
07:12Hundreds of people are going with their dead bodies in their lap.
07:16Doesn't this look like Modi?
07:18Is the government blind?
07:20They are sitting there.
07:21Everyone was watching.
07:22They have done so much injustice to the people of the country.
07:25You can't describe it.
07:28What Congress did earlier.
07:31Congress was not so bad.
07:33Okay.
07:34Congress was not so bad.
07:35All the development happened during the time of Congress.
07:38And they sent the country within 10 years.
07:41They sent the train.
07:42They sent the aircraft.
07:43They sent the Taj Mahal.
07:45They sent all these buildings.
07:47They sent LIC.
07:48And I don't know what they are doing.
07:50All this property is being sold to the country.
07:53So there is a big difference in them.
07:56They don't give a glance to Muslims.
07:59They want as much exploitation of Muslims as possible.
08:03There is no value of humans in the government of the BJP.
08:06Animals can be valued, but not humans.
08:09Do you want to kill a human for a cow?
08:12While the whole world says that cows are animals.
08:15But if we ask here, we respect cows.
08:18We don't eat cow meat.
08:20Neither did our Muftis say, don't eat cow meat.
08:23The Mughals ruled here for 300 years.
08:25Cows were not cut in their time.
08:27Babur said that cows are worshipped here from the Himalayas.
08:30And stop the cows here.
08:32So these are our emotions.
08:34And the emotions of our elders.
08:36This property is the heritage of the nation.
08:39The Taj Mahal, the fort and the buildings here.
08:42Millions of rupees are earned here every day.
08:45Do you give anything to the Muslims?
08:48You don't give anything.
08:50So the Muslim community is dissatisfied.
08:52And the reasons you gave are necessary.
08:54I will definitely talk to you about it.
08:56Not dissatisfied.
08:57We want justice.
08:59Justice should be there.
09:01You are the responsible people of the government.
09:03You are the Prime Minister.
09:05The Prime Minister is the father of the people.
09:07The King is the father of the people.
09:09So we expect justice.
09:11We want justice.
09:13We are the rulers of this country.
09:15And all the Hindus and Muslims who live in this country.
09:18They are all brothers.
09:20So we expect justice from the Muslims.
09:23Now you are selling justice openly.
09:25Courts are being sold.
09:27Is there no solution for the Muslims?
09:29What will happen in this case?
09:31Don't consider our silence our weakness.
09:33Thank you very much for your message.
09:35I will take two words from what you said.
09:38One is justice.
09:40And the other is the rule of Congress.
09:42Congress was not like this.
09:44When the BJP government came in 2014.
09:46There were many allegations put on Congress.
09:48Of corruption.
09:50At that time there was a wave in the country.
09:52Do you think this time BJP's time is over?
09:56First of all, the people have made up their minds.
10:01And in the coming time, the people will tell.
10:04With whom the people are with.
10:06As you said, many allegations were put on Congress.
10:10So she left the power.
10:12That's why she was accused.
10:14If her time comes like this,
10:16then the people are also accusing her.
10:18So she should also go.
10:20There should be a new sun in India.
10:23First of all, let's talk about the youth.
10:26The youth who are unemployed.
10:29They are forced to make fritters.
10:31They are forced to sell tea.
10:33An educated person.
10:35A well-graduated person.
10:37He is driving a rickshaw.
10:39So what does this mean?
10:41This country used to be called our golden bird.
10:43Today, the youth are unemployed.
10:45The whole country's command is on their shoulders.
10:50So you are saying that in the last 10 years,
10:53the situation has worsened.
10:55Yes.
10:56In politics, there is a lot of friction.
10:59They say that it was not like this before.
11:02Anyway, it's a matter of numbers.
11:04I would like to know from you.
11:06In Agra, the sitting MP is from the BJP.
11:12What kind of work did he do?
11:14What expectations did he have?
11:16What can be better this time?
11:18He didn't do any work.
11:20He just got his name done.
11:22He got his name done without any work.
11:24If he didn't get his name done,
11:26he would have already got his name done.
11:28We called a judge.
11:30He said to us,
11:32Sir, who will you vote for?
11:34We have the right to vote.
11:36We can vote for anyone.
11:38This is a bunker.
11:40I don't have the right to count you on polling.
11:42This is not the way.
11:44We are respecting you.
11:46And the person in front of me is asking,
11:48who will you vote for?
11:50Who told you this?
11:52BJP leaders told me this.
11:54And secondly,
11:56you have divided the country so much.
11:58There are fights,
12:00Hindus and Muslims.
12:02Tell me, is this a good thing?
12:04Yes.
12:06This is something to worry about.
12:08Especially in Agra,
12:10where there is a Muslim population.
12:12I request Modi ji
12:14not to give food.
12:16Give development to the country.
12:18Give development to the country.
12:20Our youth
12:22are jobless.
12:24They don't have a business.
12:26So they don't need food.
12:28Yes.
12:30They are jobless.
12:32Give them business.
12:34So they can earn.
12:36This is development.
12:38Thank you very much.
12:40We will come to you.
12:42I would like to know from you.
12:44You are a young voter.
12:46You have a lot of questions
12:48in your mind.
12:50What is the direction of change?
12:52Do you think that
12:54apart from BJP,
12:56other parties will give you
12:58things that BJP couldn't?
13:00Time will tell.
13:02Time will tell.
13:04Which government gives what to whom.
13:06Talking about youth,
13:08first of all,
13:10give jobs to the youth.
13:12No matter which government.
13:14The way voting is done,
13:16if there is an interview,
13:18where will the youth go?
13:20I will only say this.
13:22No matter which government.
13:24Think about the youth.
13:26You are going to vote on 7th May.
13:28Yes.
13:30Do exercise.
13:32Thank you very much.
13:34The opinion here is pretty clear.
13:36What we have seen,
13:38what we heard from the
13:40participants here is
13:42pretty much of the fact that
13:44don't give us free ration,
13:46give us jobs.
13:48There is one more person here
13:50who would like to talk and know their opinion.
13:52I would like to ask you one last question.
13:54The BJP government
13:56has been in power for 5 years,
13:5810 years.
14:00This time, they have given a slogan of 400 par.
14:02They are saying that this is a pran.
14:04Do you think that only the Muslim community
14:06is such a group in the country
14:08that is unhappy with them?
14:10Or do you see its reputation somewhere around?
14:12First of all,
14:14the government has been in power for 10 years.
14:16If they have been in power for 10 years,
14:18then they should be given 10 years of freedom.
14:20They are ready to give
14:22a lot of freedom.
14:24We can see their freedom.
14:26Now they are talking about fighting
14:28Hindus and Muslims.
14:30They are saying that they will take away
14:32the auspicious thread.
14:34If the biggest leaders of the country
14:36talk like this,
14:38what will happen to the common people?
14:40First of all,
14:42the situation in the country is not like this.
14:44It has never been like this before.
14:46Thank you very much.
14:48I will come to you for the final question.
14:50I would like to ask you one thing.
14:52As he said,
14:54the situation in the country
14:56that we are seeing now,
14:58do you think that
15:00such a situation has arisen somewhere
15:02that the government will not give any attention
15:04no matter what you do?
15:06They will do what they have to do.
15:08There is a word of Tana Shahi
15:10that is circulating.
15:12Do you think that the coming parties
15:14if the government changes
15:16will they avoid it?
15:18There was a brave man called Jaffar.
15:20He said
15:22how unfortunate
15:24Jaffar is
15:26in Kuch.
15:28He has not even got
15:30two acres of land.
15:32This is the condition of the BJP.
15:34Thank you.
15:36Final word from you.
15:38The situation you are
15:40living in Agra.
15:42What kind of sentiments are you picking
15:44if we want to know from you about the ground report?
15:46The ground report is
15:48that the youth are very worried.
15:50The youth need employment.
15:52Women need security.
15:54They need good facilities
15:56and treatment.
15:58If you go to SN Medical College,
16:00which is a very big medical college in Agra,
16:02the facilities are zero.
16:04My cousin had an accident
16:06at 2.30 pm.
16:08The police took him to SN Medical College.
16:10We reached there at 2.40 pm.
16:12As soon as the police called,
16:14he was not given any treatment till 6 pm.
16:16There was blood on his face
16:18and body.
16:20I cleaned it with my hands.
16:22This is the situation here.
16:24What did you do in the last 10 years?
16:26What did you do in the last 10 years?
16:28You made people fool.
16:30You played with their sentiments.
16:32You didn't talk about the development of the country.
16:34You made the education level low.
16:36You made the fees of the colleges
16:38so low that the middle class and the poor
16:40cannot study there.
16:42You don't have the facilities in the government schools.
16:44How will the children study?
16:46Only if they study and write,
16:48the country will move forward.
16:50If the country does not study and
16:52stays on free ration,
16:54the country will go into a pit.
16:56Thank you very much for talking to us.
16:58This is Agra.
17:00The way we spoke
17:02to all the people here today,
17:04especially the people
17:06who belong to the Muslim community,
17:08it seems that the government
17:10does come for education,
17:12health and development.
17:14But often, the problems
17:16that we see are also related to these issues.
17:18Will these issues
17:20once again become the reason
17:22for the wind of change,
17:24which at least in Agra,
17:26can be seen and heard.
17:28Thank you very much for watching this program.
17:30Stay tuned with One India.
17:32With cameraman Imran
17:34and Rajinder Bhandari,
17:36I am Pankaj Mishra for One India News.