MUSLIM POLITICS

Muslim Representation in Lok Sabha, 1996

Analysis by Khursheed Alam

It is interesting to note how Muslim representation in national Parliament has risen and fallen over the last four decades. In 1952 it was 36, in 1957 it was 24, in 1962 it was 32, in 1967 29, in 1971 27, in 1977 32, in 1980 46, in 1984 41, in 1989 33 and in 1991 28.

Although Muslims have not been voting en bloc like some others (for instance Baniyas have always voted for Jan Sangh or its new avatar BJP or Brahmins voted en block for Congress for about 40 years), there was some consistency in Muslim voting pattern. Even that consistency is no longer visible now. The seasoned psephologist Prannoy Roy emphatically rejects the myth of Muslim bloc voting.

In 1996, fewer Muslims are likely to make it to Parliament:

·       BJP, which is avowedly anti-Muslim, has not fielded even one Muslim candidate. None of its 477 candidates is a Muslim!

·       CPM, which is supposed to be a staunchly secular party, has also, ironically, done the same in UP, politically the most important state in India. It has fielded only two candidates in UP, none of them is a Muslim, although on-all India level they have fielded 46 candidates, six of them being Muslim (7.89%).

·       Congress has fielded 543, out of which 40 (7.36%) are Muslim.

·       Janata Dal 207, out of which 19 are Muslim (9.17%)

·       There are 2 Muslims out of 43 fielded by CPI (4.65%).

Interestingly, Uttar Pradesh with 85 parliamentary constituencies, shows the trend of ticket distribution to Muslims more clearly than any other state. The following are the figures:

·       11 Muslims out of 48 fielded by Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party (22.09 per cent).

·       23 Muslims out of 85 fielded by Kanshi Ram's BSP (27.5 per cent)

·       7 Muslims out of 85 fielded by Congress (8.23%).

·       1 Muslim out of 16 fielded by Janata Dal (6.25%)

·       No Muslim out of two fielded by CPM.

 This is only one side of the coin.

Sometimes people are knowingly fielded in areas where they are bound to lose. At other times Muslims are fielded to ruin the chances of (other) candidates. The only irrefutable conclusion drawn is that Muslims have got fewer tickets than their 12% share in population. Kanshi Ram's 27.5% allocation is laudable on the one hand while on the other the net effect could be that fielded against Mulayam's candidates they might undermine the

Muslim cause rather than help it.

•            The political leaders is even more damaging. One by one individual leaders and Muslim organizations have clearly stated in public that given the difficult choice between BJP and Congress should opt for the latter while the Musilims generally don't see the distinction between the two since December 6, 1992.

•            There are other statistics which sound impressive but nobody knows of what consequence they would be this time. Consider the following

•            There are 85 parliamentary constituencies out of 543 where Muslim vote can tilt the balance and decide the winner.

•            There are 145 others where it matters a lot.

Quite impressive. However, when it comes to really making an impact there is always that slip between the cup and the lip. There are certain insidious tends. (like the) concerted moves by BJP to get as many Muslim names deleted from voters lists as possible at the time of preparation of such lists.

All these factors are found to influence the final tally.

 (Source: The Nation and the World)

Milli Parliament: Muslim Political Bill, Patna, January, 1996 (Excerpts)

In order to make 200 million Muslim Indians ideological citizens of this country we (should) make necessary amendments in the Constitution to make it recognize the Quranic injunction which Muslims have to follow.

The constitution directs the country towards a Uniform Civil Code. This clear clash between the Quranic revelation and the Indian Constitution must be reconciled.

To accept the Shariah as guiding principles the present political system must be withdrawn immediately and a new system should take its place for which the Quran provides a model.

It is needed to establish such a political system in which no individual is preferred to the other except those who are more God conscious.

It is needed to change the present electoral system altogether.

It is needed to adopt proportional representation based on a separate electorate.

A more objective census should be conducted in the light of the principles laid down by Milli Parliament.

Separate electorate should be conducted for 119 Muslim seats of the Lok Sabha.

It is advocated to divide the country into many independent political units.

The country can be divided into 122 independent political units each being independent and autonomous yet depending on the Center for Defense and Foreign Policy.

Each independent political unit shall be declared as the abode of a particular culture.

All cultural units should be declared as demilitarized zones and no state should be allowed to pursue any military ambition. Internal conflicts within the Federation should be solved without the use of military power. Any religious group or cultural minority willing to settle in another state, for economic reasons, or otherwise, shall have the right to do so.

For the last 50 years the culture of majority community has been promoted in the name of secularism. Observance of Hindu rituals in official functions has created a deep sense of alienation among Muslims. A remedy to this effect can only be made through proper outlets of Muslim cultural manifestations under state patronage, at least in areas of Muslim concentration.

Not to minimize Hindu cultural influence but to provide equal opportunity for other cultures to manifest in our day-to-day life.

As for a lingua-franca we must form a language based on the vocabulary of both languages written in Roman script.

The federal government may establish special cultural foundations in the center to cater to the needs of those people who either by their own choice, or for any reason, choose to live in any cultural unit as a minority.

States will be liable for the loss of any innocent life and will pay a compensation to the kith and kin of the deceased within three days. In case of delay the federal government will pressurize the concerned state to pay many times more.

Not only the individual but the states shall have no right to use weapons. Terrorism whether by the state or by the individual will be equally condemned.

Time has come to amend or withdraw Article 44 or any similar constitutional provision which Muslims consider a hurdle in their religious freedom.

The states shall provide Muslims all possible help to fulfill the religious obligation and Islamic education. What is needed is to allocate educational funds in proportion to the group's numerical strength.

The federal government shall establish separate cells for each religious group under the Ministry of Religious Affairs... No religious group shall be given a label which it may despise.

The concept of Shariah Court shall be accepted as part of religious freedom.

 It is needed to work out an educational policy which may have room for all religious groups. The teaching of religious belief of one community to another will bring a true understanding among members of different religious groups.

The center shall take all necessary steps, as long as the future Muslim cultural units do not come into existence, for the development of an independent Muslim educational system.

The center shall assume the full responsibility of all important Muslim educational institutions.

Each cultural state shall have the freedom to formulate an educational policy of its own choice but it will not include false information about any religious group in its curriculum.

The centre will ensure a just time distribution for federal television net-work.

The (state) shall guarantee to every individual the right to get education in his/her mother tongue.

The regional state languages shall enjoy official status.

The cultural states will take effective measures to ensure economic justice in consultation with the federal government.

Concentration of the country's resources in a few hands will be a thing of the past.

It is needed to establish a riba-free economy to meet the economic aspirations of the Muslim Ummah future Muslim republics will be instrumental in creating a riba-free economic system. The Reserve Bank of India shall provide all practical help for the establishment of an Interest free banking system.

Every citizen (shall have) equal opportunity for his personal development/education and basic necessaries.