In Aligarh, the BJP's recent overtures to the Muslim electorate have not made any "perceptible impact" on the community. The conflicting signals emanating from different BJP leaders, seemed to have dampened the enthusiasm, even of those Muslims who are strong proponents of a dialogue with the BJP.

According to Tariq Mansoor ... "The Babari mosque demolition issue is still bearing heavily on our minds and the fact that senior BJP leaders have repeatedly been saying that the temple will be constructed once the BJP comes to power at the Centre, is a matter of concern and cannot simply be brushed aside." Mr. Mansoor is also the secretary of the AMU Staff Association.

Many at AMU are of the opinion that once the BJP takes a final stand on Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura, the Muslims are expected to become "conducive" to the idea of having an open dialogue with the BJP.

A Janata Dal supporter on the AMU campus admitted that Muslim hostility towards the BJP has waned. "If the present ambivalence continues to prevail amongst Muslims, it would indirectly benefit the BJP. By sending conflicting signals and somehow allaying Muslim fears, the BJP is trying to reduce the anti-BJP hysteria among them. This move can prevent last-minute polarisation in the Muslims vote and can also reduce the percentage of polling by the Muslim electorate."

Several other teachers (said) "Our perception of the Congress had slowly started to change for the better after many years, but in one blow, the party has succeeded in reversing this process and in the process, it has identified itself with the objectives of the BJP".

The proposal that the United Front should have an electoral understanding with the Congress in states like Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat and Rajasthan seems to be 'quite acceptable" as far as the Muslims are concerned.

According to Mohammad Gulrez of the department of political science, " ... Today more than ever, they are in the grip of a collective apathy, the result of unilateral fatigue. They are watching with dismay the failure of the secular parties to deliver the goods. They have, thus, now started paying attention to the BJP's utterances."                                                                                                                          (Source: The Times of India, 14 December, 1997)