BySyed Ali
Mujtaba
Indian
Muslims are at the crossroads. The current situation in the country has given
enough indications that Muslims are unsafe in India
Muslims
have always been a law abiding and peace loving citizens of this country. After
Partition they adopted defensive postures because they feared any communal
regimentation from their side can incur backlash from the majority community.
So since 1947 Muslims have always flocked under the banner of some or other so-called
secular parties.
They have
forfeited their pan-Indian political identity and split themselves into
regional identities. They lived under the hope that the secular parties will
protect them from anti-Muslim forces.
They also
hoped that secular parties can create a climate of trust and their well being
would be protected. Further, they hoped under such political arrangements they
may flourish.
However,
Muslims aligning with the secular parties have seen their future in jeopardy.
In last 70 years or so none of the secular political parties has given them any
share in the political power. What maximum they could offer is lip service of
providing them protection and security to them. The secular political parties
have failed to create a political climate where Muslims can flourish.
Instead the
so-called secular parties have helped in creating a situation where the
identity of Muslims is at stake. The current turmoil in the country centering
on Muslims makes it clear that they are a defenseless community in India
If the
media’s anti-Muslim rhetoric is to be believed, the entire country’s energy is
geared to extricate Muslims from their own motherland. The situation has come
to such a pass that Muslims have become the most vulnerable species in India
In such a
situation the dilemma before the Indian Muslims is what to do? The choice
before them is to either rely on some or other political parties to defeat the
anti-Muslim forces, or they need to make political strategies to protect their
interests.
Some feel
the time has come for Muslims to make choices. The choice is to either rely on
some or other secular parties or to live in a political climate where they have
to hear anti-Muslim rhetoric day in and day out.
The other
choice is either to live in a climate of fear and insecurity or become the
captain of their own ship and master of their destiny and steer their ship in
the choppy waters of the country.
It’s time
Muslims should unite under one banner and milk the electoral cow of the
country. If somehow they can produce a substantial block of MPs under one
leader then they may be able to secure their future in this country.
The best
bet for Indian Muslims is to go for the formation of a political party that has
a pan India
Once such a
Muslim block of MPs is created at the national level, it can always be in a
bargaining position to protect Muslims interests. Such political outfit can
always be in power by aligning with whichever party rules the country.
An example
of Lok Janshakti Party is before us. It has no pan India
Some may
ask which political party and political leader can lead them. In the current
situation, the leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM),
Asaduddin Owaisi is the only Muslim who is heard speaking for the Muslim
interests. Now imagine if he has a backing of more than 15 MPs, what could be
the impact on the politics of the country.
It is clear
that the kind of politics that is shaping up India, Muslims in the country have
to decide whether they want to suffer catching the coattails of the political
parties or have a political outfit that maybe powerful enough to stand on its own
and share power in the political system of the country.
There may
be some apologists who may argue Muslim communal politics would be detrimental
for the community as it would invite Hindu backlash. This seems to be an
argument more convincing in the fifties and sixties when Muslims were reeling
under the trauma of Parturition of India.
Now, the
situation is very different. Hindu India is trying to make its last ditch
effort to stitch its open belly from where its caste groupings are oozing out.
It has created a specter of Muslims to keep a semblance of Hindu religious
identity intact. The other trick they have is selling the hyper nationalist
agenda to keep their folks united.
However,
now the time is on a different roll call. It’s all about gaining electoral
muscle and gain political mileage. If the case groups are busy doing such
exercise, the religious groups like the Sikhs under Akalis in Punjab
and the Christians under various political outfits in North-East are doing the
same.
So, if the
Muslims do the same there is nothing communal about it. The current political
order in any case has demonized the identity of the Muslims. It has engaged in
communal program and aided and abated Muslim’s lynching in broad day.
So, all
these developments have given Indian Muslims enough food for thought to develop
a political strategy to safeguard their interests.
Now if
Indian Muslims goal to share political power in the country, they must mobilize
themselves to achieve such goal.
The CAA,
NPR, NCR, Babari Masjid verdict, post Godhra communal riots verdict, anti-human
moves on J&K etc has given the Muslim community enough ammunition to and
ponder about the future political strategy of living in India