Is the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUeH) really becoming a force to reckon with? It has earned laurels in the aftermath of Nandigram violence by championing for the cause of deceased farmers irrespective of religion. The Hindustan Times reports
An un- known force four months back, it is now a force to reckon with. The Jamiat leaders stressed that their aim was not to instigate communal tension. “The situation across the state is such that no one party can fight alone but all anti-CPM forces have to come together, leaving behind their divides,” Chowdhury had told HT recently Panchanan Mondal of Sonachura and Subhas Santra of Khejuri, who lost a son in the firing, said calling the Jamiat “communal” was just an attempt by the CPM to spread misinformation. “In all the meetings the Jamiat conducted at Nandigram, it never spoke just for Muslim farmers but for the farming community as a whole. It has never tried to keep us aside just because we are non-Muslims,” Santra said.
Indian Muslims need a political force. And particularly a force which can appeal to everyone, Hindus and Muslims. The biggest movement among Indian Muslims, Tabligh-e-jamaat, is a non-political organization so the onus is on Jamait-e-Islami and its sister organization to politically elevate themselves. Muslims have had enough of pseudo-secularists and fascists. Its high time that the Muslims top brass gel together as a unit forgetting their differences. Congress has always served as back stabbers and other so called secularists are no good. As a child I have listened to lot of heated discussion,in my family, where people have advocated voting for BJP because of this hypocrisy by the Congress. I have already talked about these sickular parties
CONGRESS MP Rahul Gandhi said on Monday that the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid would not have happened if anybody from the Gandhi family had been at the helm.
I really don’t know about the BJP but a Muslim political party would definitely be a boon. A word of caution-A party not by the radical elements within the community but of rational individuals preferably the youth.
Jamiat is becoming quite vocal (and also publicly visible) lately. Voicing the concerns of people and taking up issues that affect the whole society is commendable.
Also, the Jamiat leaders are enjoying the media attention and all over India their local units have begun issuing statements regularly on all social issues.
However, I don’t think its leaders have the mettle to take the political leadership. if they remain active socially and get active in education and health, it would be more than enough.
In Uttarakhand Jamiat leaders first cosied up with a Chief Minister when the new incumbent and his administration didn’t give them proper attention, they got angry. What happened is for all of us to see. Over the last one year Urdu papers have witnessed this akhbaar-baazi, rona dhona and ilzaam-taraashi.
They better not get into the mud. Firstly there is not much scope. Secondly, if they really want to enter politics they should have a strategy and plan. They need to do ground work and get other sections in confidence. Of course, they have got mileage here. Personally I think they shouldn’t come into politics.
A Muslim party is a good concept, but question is, is it really possible to have one without leading to communal rifts? A desirable party for Muslims should ideally not tout its Muslim tag (that includes doing away with a name like Jamiat) but work consistently for the members of its community.
The only reason why BJP works as a pro-Hindu party is because India is a Hindu majority state. I understand that any pro-Muslim party would be never be accepted by non-Muslims and hence there is no point in having it. But can we at least win enough seats in Muslims majority constituencies? Why not be king makers instead of king? If even this is not possible then I really wonder whats the solution of this political crisis among Muslims.
There are very few constituencies in this country outside Kashmir where Muslims are in a majority ie over 50%.
Even in constituencies where they are 30-40%, there are so many Muslim candidates that the chance of a Muslim getting elected gets very low due to division of votes. Muslim party will surely not get non-Muslim votes.
However, a Muslim on the ticket of Lok Dal from Muzaffar Nagar, on the ticket of SP from Moradabad and on the ticket of BSP can win from say, Amroha or Meerut because of getting additional Jat, Yadav and Dalit votes respectively of the party. Transfer of votes is necessary.
In UP, there is just one constituency, Rampur, that has over 50% Muslim electorate. Psephologists say that a consolidated 30-35% vote can bring victory to a candidate in a multi-cornered contest. But seats like Bijnore (39% Muslim) are SC or ST reserved and Muslims can’t fight.
Outside UP, two constituencies are in Kerala (won by Muslim League) and a few in WB/Assam along with an exception of Owaisi sahab’s seat at Hyderabad. Even if we expect that at best 7-8 people manage to win under the banner of a pan-Indian Muslim party, what will they be able to do, I am not sure.
I always prefer a person (better if he is a non-Muslim) who listens to his Muslim electorate, understands their basic problems and is available, rather than a person who is member of an outfit sounding a Muslim name.
What an ordinary person needs is help in getting ration card, recommendation for loan, help in getting out of lock up when illegally detained on suspicion or just for purpose of extortion, assitance in getting registration under BPL (Below Poverty Line) scheme, stopping bull dozers from demolishing their bastis…etc etc….the most basic needs…but alas…in India where everything moves on sifarish or an influential person’s phone call, often the ‘more educated’ public representatives fail to get these things done…
A political party with muslim leadership and national agenda is in theory a good idea. However the problem is that once its a political party, it will fail us and it will attract all sorts of wrong peope. basically, idealism and politics don’t mix. its a romantic idea that a muslim leadership will represent the masses and I will welcome it as a step towards the ‘mainstream’!
Interesting how Sonia, George, YSR and ajit jogis are able to represent the masses even when not hindu. i think its because they are not products of the need for a christian party.