Aligarh, Jan 30 (UNI) A growing trend to cast vote "through parochial prism" as seen especially in a state like Uttar Pradesh is a matter of concern, a prominent Muslim political scientist Arish Khan of Aligarh Muslim University has said here even as he stressed on the role of Muslim intellectuals to counter the menace. "Exercising of electoral franchise through parochial prism is a matter of worry. It is happening everywhere these days and there are many reasons for it," Dr Khan told UNI in an interview here. However, he said traditionally the voters in Uttar Pradesh have been always vulnerable to these differences and political parties have "banked upon them". Dr Khan maintained with its explicit 'pro-Hindutva' politics, the BJP has only made things worse. In this context, he pointed that the political forces have "orchestrated Muzaffarnagar type conflicts and these have only adversely affected the psychology of voters". Lashing out at the RSS and BJP's politics of religious polarisation, he said, it is high time the majority community Hindus in India should realise that India should not turn like Pakistan of 1978-79. "Jehadi elements in Pakistan started raising their heads in 1978-79; Zia-Ul-Haq encouraged these for political benefits; we are viewing these trends in India today.....so many Senas raising their heads. This is a matter of concern," Dr Khan diagnosed. But he hinted at the role being played by Muslim intellectuals too in setting things right. Dr Khan opined that in general, Muslim intellectuals have got compartmentalised into three groups - one, those who have readily compromised, second those who are in queue to make compromise and the third group who prefer to remain silent and play safe. "Essentially they do not belong to intellectuals, they are opportunists and defeatists," he maintained. To another question, Dr Khan said, the relation between Muslims and the Modi government remains on weak front as the battered minority community feels "deprived". "The legitimacy of the government in the eyes of the minority citizens is not very good," he said. MORE UNI DEVN SDR SV ADG 1011