Who are Pasmanda Muslims, focus of BJP outreach?

 Explained: Who are Pasmanda Muslims, focus of BJP outreach?

‘Pasmanda’, a Persian word, means the ‘ones left behind’, and is used to describe depressed classes among the Muslims. Pasmandas are estimated to make up 80-85% of India's Muslims.

Written by Saurabh Kapoor , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi |

Updated: July 12, 2022 1:23:44 pm

Former Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar Ansari (left) is the founder of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz. (Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reported to have asked the BJP national executive in Hyderabad last weekend to reach out to “deprived and downtrodden sections” in communities other than Hindus, which was understood to be a message to the party to focus on groups such as Pasmanda Muslims in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.