New Delhi: In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP leader Kausar Jahan won the election of the Delhi Haj Committee becoming only the second woman to hold the post of the Delhi Haj Committee chairperson, reported PTI.
This is the first time that AAP has lost control of the Delhi Haj Committee after coming to power, reported India Today. It added that former Delhi Congress chief Tajdar Babar was the first woman to hold the post.
Kausar received three of the five votes cast by the committee members in the election held at the Delhi Secretariat. According to PTI, the committee comprises six members, two each from the AAP and the BJP, Muslim theology expert Mohammad Saad and Congress councillor Nazia Danish.
BJP MP Gautam Gambhir is also among the committee members.
After her win, Kausar said that the appointment process for the chairman’s position and formation of the committee has been built by honourable LG.
“The election was conducted with the consideration of all due rules. The decision has been made,” she added, as quoted by ANI.
Talking about her plan during chairmanship, she said, “PM Modi’s govt has fought for the Muslim community’s rights. Women feel safe after ban on Triple Talaq. It is our responsibility to work on reducing the problems for those going for Haj. The issues will be dealt with accordingly.”
Reacting to her win, Delhi BJP working president Virendra Sachdeva took to Twitter and said Jahan's victory shows the growing trust and faith of Muslims in the party.
"Congratulations to Kausar Jahan on being elected as the Delhi Haj Committee chairperson. The victory of the BJP-affiliated candidate in the Delhi Haj Committee makes it clear that now the Muslim community is also eager to join the country's development stream Shri @narendramodi," Sachdeva said in a tweet in Hindi.
The three votes received by the BJP candidate Kausar included those of Gambhir, Saad and Kausar herself. Congress’ Danish abstained from voting.
AAP MLAs Abdul Rehman and Haji Yunus are also members of the committee.