Muslims must be assertive in Indian polity’

News - English

புதன், 05 ஜனவரி 2011 18:12

Muhammad Adeeb MP (Rajya Sabha) Muslims should be assertive and be ready to thwart those hell-bent on denying them their rightful place in the Indian political set up, said a member of the Rajya Sabha (India's upper house of Parliament).
“We must assert ourselves with full force for our share of the power in every walk of life in India,” said Muhammad Adeeb.

“Muslims should stop believing and behaving that they are tenants in India, for they are not. It's their country and they must get equitable share in power, development and prosperity,” he said.

“I always wonder why Muslims are given Minority and Waqf ministries in the name of power-sharing? If it continues like this then one day Muslims will be made 'Roza Minister' and 'Namaz Minister.' This has to stop,” he said, adding, “Why can’t a Muslim become finance or external affairs minister?” He said, “Congress must change this mindset and fulfill its commitments made to the community in 2004, before the community completely deserts it.”

Adeeb, who is in the Kingdom to attend a private function, said, “I am an independent member of Parliament but won with the Congress support. I regard Sonia Gandhi as my leader and am sympathetic to the Congress party. That's why I have been cautioning the Congress leadership to be more realistic, visionary and attentive to the pulse of the Muslims before it's too late.”

“I must say, however, that Congress President Sonia Gandhi is very sensitive about Muslims' plight and has taken some concrete steps for the betterment of the community. And I'm hopeful that she and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will give the community its due,” he said, adding, “As the Muslims look at the Congress as the only party sympathetic to their cause, if it fails to deliver, then it will find the Muslims leaving them in droves.”

There are people in different government departments and organizations who always go the extra mile in order to deny the Muslims their rightful share, he said.

“But I warn these people that there is a new awakening in the community and it will support or reject political formations in India on give and take basis. This was evident in recently-concluded assembly elections in Bihar where Muslims voted in large number for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government,” he said.

“This is alarming and the Congress and like-minded parties must learn a lesson from their beating in the hustings,” Adeeb said, adding, “Muslims have always proved through ballot that it's they who ensure victory or defeat of a political party in India.”

Speaking about the upcoming assembly elections in his home state of Uttar Pradesh, he said that two assembly by-elections that took place a day ahead of the Bihar elections saw the Congress candidates losing their security deposits in both the contests. This speaks volumes.

He said though Chief Minister Mayawati has lost some ground she may yet prove strong enough to form the government, maybe with BJP's support. As the Congress on its own cannot defeat her and the Bhaujan Samaj Party it must forge a tactical alliance with Mulayam Singh and Ajit Singh in order to emerge as a power player in the state.

“If Congress decides to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh, like it did in Bihar, the result will be disastrous for the party. And if Mayawati is back in power in Uttar Pradesh, she will likely set her sights on Delhi's throne for it will be difficult for the Congress to retain power at the center after 2014 elections if it fares poorly in Uttar Pradesh,” Adeeb said.

Source : http://arabnews.com/world/article226825.ece