Patna(CNA Media/Insaaf Times) The BJP’s minority cell has started a drive to connect with Muslims in Gujarat, which will be participating in the polls later this year, by making at least 100 ‘Alpsankhyak Mitra’ in assembly segments that have sizable population of the community, stated party leader Jamal Siddiqui.‘Alpsankhyak Mitra’, friend from the minority community, of the party will be responsible to ensure at least 50 minority votes for the BJP from their surroundings. The target Muslim population is roughly the size of 25,000 to one lakh voters.This is coming at a time when the state government is under condemnation for releasing the 11 convicts for raping Bilkis Bano and killing her family members during the 2002 communal riots.Siddiqui defended his party’s government stating “…following the instructions of the High Court and that committee decided to release the convicts. It was only the BJP government which punished them and they have been released after serving a certain punishment…after all, mercy is part of Indian culture.”When asked about the riots, he said “Riots happened in 2002, it was unfortunate. It is past now, people have moved on. People have seen that Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn’t differentiate on basis of caste and religion. People irrespective of their faith have benefited from welfare schemes of his government.”