It’s a rough summer afternoon in Hyderabad, but the newly
renovated Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen headquarter ‘Daraul Salam (abode
of peace)’ is packed with ticket aspirants, many of them interestingly
are Dalits. MIM’s screams of expansion and alliance with Dalits has
resonated well with its cadre to expand their base.
In an unprecedented move party released first list of candidates a
month ahead of elections whereas in past it used to announce candidates
on the last day of filing nominations. Party chief Asaduddin Owaisi is
in reformative mode, and is ready to don many hats. From a messiah of
oppressed sections to a vocal Muslim leader, from a socialist rant to a
feminist brand, this London educated barrister is bringing it all out in
these elections.
Interacting with journalists in a conference hall, Mr. Owaisi tells
us that Dalit Muslim alliance is the need of the hour, “After formation
of Telangana, Dalit-Muslim alliance becomes more necessary.” MIM, he
claims, is going to filed weaker section candidates in assembly segments
in its second list, particularly mentioning name of Zaheerabad, a
Muslim dominated SC reserved assembly constituency at Karnataka border
currently represented by former minister Geeta Reddy.
Expansion is their agenda, but the party’s first priority Mr. Owaisi
said will be to retain their sitting assembly and parliamentary seats.
With the starting of its own android application, keeping in tune
with changing times, Majlis has also announced formation of party’s
women’s wing called Shoba-e-Khawateen. Majlis councilor Yasmeen Sultana
an advocate by profession will be its convener.
“I should have done it much earlier”, Mr. Asaduddin said. He believes
no party could anymore dare to neglect the fair sex which forms 49% of
population. “There is a need for emancipation of women and politics is
also one of the ways.”
Though party became tech savvy but still feels allergic with
electoral norm ‘manifesto’, “Manifestos are created to cheat people and
to break promises. For us peoples aspirations are our manifesto. We
don’t believe in formality of releasing manifesto we will show our
manifesto by our actions and ground work.” MIM chief said.
In a polarized electoral battle making Narendra Modi a poll issue MIM
claim is to protect the country. Mr. Asaduddin said, “India is a
diverse nation, so secularism is must to keep nation united. Narendra
Modi an RSS ideologue will promote only hatred which will cause
destruction of this nation.”
To weight his argument he gave a recent example from Mr. Modi’s
speech in Assam, “He (Modi) said rhinos in Assam are killed to make way
for Bangaladeshi Muslim settlers. This is the kind of poison he has
towards minorities that he even linked rhino poaching incidents to
Muslims.”
Mr. Owaisi was quick to also mention Maulana Abdul Qavi’s arrest by
Gujarat police in a decade old terror conspiracy case just before
elections, “People are witnessing all this incidents they will decide
who is good for the nation.”
A Telugu newspaper journalist in between commented on his amazement
in seeing Majlis press note in Telugu which suits quite well with party
embracing local language to reach out masses in Telangana and
SeemaAndhra.
This brought the critical question, is Majlis dominated by Deccani
Urdu speaking Muslims discriminated against Telugu speaking Muslims of
the region? To which Mr. Owaisi replied, “How can we discriminate each
other internally when we know as a community we are target of different
kinds of discrimination. There is no discrimination on the basis of
language; we give equal platform for our Telugu Muslim brothers in
districts.”
He continued his assertion that language is no barrier in fight
against injustice, “I go to Assam speak for Muslims there, I went to
Kashmir and raised their issue in Parliament. How can I not speak for my
Telugu speaking brothers?”
Does Majlis still enjoy monopoly over Muslim politics in the region
or there is a growing opposition within the community like in the form
of its breakaway faction MBT? Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi counters in cold
tune.
“You wait till May 16th everything will be crystal clear whether
we are facing opposition or getting support from the community,” he
says.
To sum up the position of opposition against them, “By the way MBT
didn’t fought a single Municipal election out of Hyderabad,” MIM chief
said with a magnum smirk.
By Mohd Ismail Khan
Source: TwoCircles.net
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