Muzaffarnagar rally raises hopes that farmer identity will thwart appeals to religious identity in U.P. polls

Some pro-BJP farmers rest hopes on Yogi govt. but disillusioned with Modi

As lakhs of on Sunday and listened to their leaders preach Hindu-Muslim unity, some vowed that the damaging farm policies of the last few years would ensure that they voted on the basis of economic interests, not their religion. Others, however, still seem to be hoping for the BJP to change its policies and mentioned the lack of a strong alternative party to vote for. For farm leaders and non-BJP politicians, the challenge will be to ensure that the forged over the last few months of protest is not disrupted by the BJP’s appeal to Hindu identity in the six months before the elections.