MUSLIM POLITICS

Saiyid Hamid on Electoral Choice

Although the atmosphere is nauseatingly polluted, the 1996 elections may well constitute a turning point. The voter should resolve to reduce disparities and put an end to exploitation. For this purpose, a radical polarization between haves and have-nots should be brought about. All the deprived, disadvantaged and exploited sections of society such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Muslims, who are the educationally most backward and least assisted minority should come together. United they can fight the exploiters; divided they would fall. It is not an ephemeral or ambiguous alliance that they should piece together. It is a unity based on common interests and hinging on a programme of all-round development that they should forge. That should be our thrust for the 21st century. And imagine the spread effect of the benefit: eighty-five per cent of our population will benefit by this alignment which, given our circumstances, is the only natural course for us to follow. The divisive role of money and influence will of course operate against this natural trend; it will taper off during the next three general elections.

The other axis of polarization will be secularism vs fanaticism; reason vs prejudice; enlightenment vs superstition; diversity vs regimentation. All the cobwebs of sophistry that the proponents of Hindutva have spun would be swept away. A multi-religious, multi-racial and multi-lingual country has necessarily to be proud of its infinite diversity. Hindutva in the context of our multi- faceted country stands for "might is right. We ought to reverse the adage and say that might will flow from what is right. Secularism, tolerance, mutual respect are inescapable attributes of a democratic country known for its diversity. The BJP, so deft as specious reasoning, attaches only semantic significance to matters involving freedom and well-being of a billion people. It seems to suggest that "substitute Hindu culture for Hindu religion and the objection against the imposition of Hinduism on non-believers would vanish". Whom are they out to deceive?

The electorate in general and the Muslim voter in particular should announce, and insist that members returned by it should be clear about and supportive of Muslim demands for education, health facilities and employment. The first two would require the country to be mapped indicating educational facilities, existing and proposed. These should include facilities for other deprived sections.

With regard to employment, the results of efforts made throughout the country for coaching Muslim candidates for Civil Services have not been encouraging. There is no alternative but to press for reservation for a limited period. The demand unfortunately did not get the Support of Muslim public opinion that would have persuaded the political parties to include it in their election manifestoes. How tragic? We could not put up a united front in respect of an issue on which no difference should have arisen. It should in fact be among the national priorities.

The two major parties are the Congress and the BJP. The latter represents militantly aggressive Hindu nationalism. Institutions denoting Muslim identity are on its hit list. BJP is blunt and bellicose; Congress is deceitful and insidiously suave. It has at the decision- making level an anti-Muslim hard-core. From the very outset it has been making promises to Muslims which it never had the intention of fulfilling. During its tenure at the Centre and in the States Muslims underwent a steep decline. It could not even provide them security nor punish those who perpetrated atrocities.

We are thus left with the third group comprising the National Front and the progressive parties. They are secular and sympathetic, at least theoretically, towards Muslims and other weaker sections of society. It is they who can be depended upon for rolling back the fascist forces, not the Congress that does not know its mind and that continues changing color like a chameleon.

It also follows that Muslims should go all out in support of the Third Front and should not allow any considerations of creed to deflect them from the purpose.

However, apart from the present election the gradual decline of Muslim membership of the Lok Sabha warrants a review indue course of the relevant problems of the Constitution. Mr. Asaf Ali's suggestion that the best device for securing proper minority representation would be to have earmarked constituencies for Muslims under the joint electorate system.

Lastly, the electorate should quickly build up public opinion that can effectively discourage proliferation of Muslim candidates. Unless this dangerous trend is terminated concentration of Muslim population in a large number of constituencies would become meaningless.

(Source: The Nation and the World)

HINDU CHAUVINISM

An Order to King of Saudi Arabia

By a Hindutva Fanatic

Through Syed Shahabuddin

King of Saudi Arabia,

I ORDER you to open Shiva Temple of Mecca otherwise I ask to Christian Governments of America, Russia, England etc. to drop ATOM BOMB on you.

John Putherford

Mujahidul Islam Qasmi on Muslim Issues

For half a century Muslims have been trying to answer questions like "when did you stop beating your wife?" The questions have always been asked by one kind of people the pathologically anti-Muslim set.

Answering loaded questions, any answer to which surely puts them in the dock, has depleted the Muslims' energies. Allegations, charges, in fact, chargesheets, against Muslims have been a dominant motif in the yellow strand of our polity.

"For you, which comes first, the nation or Islam?" had been a favorite with the Muslim-baiters till December 6, 1992. Now they are embarrassed because this section of our population, including mediamen, policemen, politicos and Hindutva's foot soldiers proved beyond doubt that when it comes to choosing between their idea of Hinduism and India, they would choose Hinduism without a thought to India. So, the question died an unnatural death on December 6, 1992.

Then came the ISI, Pakistan's... military intelligence outfit that seemed to control India with the help of Indian Muslims. That's why Rao government put nearly 70,000 people behind the bars lest they indulge in ISI- masterminded subversion.

Now it turns out that it is not the Muslims who had been getting ISI funds but super-patriots... It also turns out that it is not Muslim leaders who have ben hand in glove with the Dubai-based mafiosi Dawood Ibrahim but respectable Congressmen like former Union minister Kalpnath Rai and Brij Bhushan, BJP Member of Parliament. So, there is a lull in the media about ISI and their supposed agents in India - the Muslims. After all, there is a point to which you can carry such things.

We have also been castigated for mistreating our women. There is a lull on that front as well possibly because people who gather data on such heinous crimes as the burning of young women in their thousands for dowry, girl infanticide, sati and female feticide know well who is killing all those females (13 million female foetus per year according to UNESCO as mentioned in HAW) and who is killing for dowry. People asking us added questions should also do some self-introspection.

We have decided not only to refuse to discuss agenda set by Muslim-baiters and Islam-haters, we have our own agenda.

(Source: The Nation and the World)

Ausaf Saied Vasfi on Muslim Aspirations

Muslims do not ask for the moon. They just want the rule of law, equality before law... and fair treatment at all levels... The only Muslim ambition is to live a normal Muslim life in plural India. For that they need a peaceful, congenial ambience, free from periodic chastisements, threats and discrimination.

The Muslim vote is only for those noble souls - regardless of their religious nomenclatures - who, believing in the plurality of India, care for the religious, polity. Those who have the guts and capacity to rise linguistic and cultural minorities of our heterogeneous above petty pulls of sectarianism. Those known for their probity, integrity and honesty. The thugs, the bigots, the double-dealers deserve to be discarded lock, stock and barrel.

It is in the interest of all the secularists that the secular vote is not divided to the advantage of the communal and fascist parties and the Narasimha Rao - lead Congress. The dummy candidates, if any, ought to be rejected outrightly.

Muslims may aspire for justice political, in the Lok Sabha or the state assemblies. They want empowerment right now and adequate representation however honest, forthright and responsible seats where Muslims can influence the outcome. representatives. There are nearly 80 to 100 Lok Sabha conceding that they constitute only 12.12% as officially declared, their proportionate share could be around 65. From a high of 48 to a low of 20, the actual Muslim presence has varied. This injustice has got to be done away with.

(Source: The Radiance Viewsweekly, 31 March - 6 April, 1996)

Late Dr. Rasheeduddin Khan's

Last Letter to Shahabuddin

I am delighted that you are standing again for the membership of the Parliament, where you have been articulate on issues of national importance and of inter-communal harmony for building a just secular and democratic India. One may not entirely agree with all your formulations and suggestions but there is no doubt that you speak with the sincerity of your heart and the clarity of your understanding about complexity of Indian polity and politics. Further no one with an open mind would have any reservation on your active and dedicated work as a member of Parliament. In appreciation of your work and as a token of my long standing friendship, I have great pleasure in enclosing a small contribution towards your election campaign.