Mushawarat to organize National Muslim Political Convention

By TwoCircles.net news desk

New Delhi: The Markazi Majlis (Central Committee) of the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat,the umbrella body of Indian Muslim organisations, met here on Saturday, 13 June 2009, under the chairmanship of the national president Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan.

The AIMMM adopted a number of resolutions on the current national and international situation. In a resolution on the general elections, it welcomed the result of the polls, particularly the defeat of the communal forces and the formation of a secular government under the leadership of the INC. It expressed hope that an unfettered UPA will be able to implement the policies and intent announced by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who has said that Muslims on account of their backwardness should have the first claim on resources. The MMM said that the generosity or otherwise of the Congress-led UPA government will decide if the Muslim return to the fold of the Congress is permanent or not.

The MMM expressed it disappointment that very few Muslims were elected to the Lok Sabha raising the Muslim deprivation level to nearly 60% for various reasons, including the denial of tickets by secular parties and the contest among them in Muslim concentration seats and the division of Muslim votes. Indeed, eight states in which the Muslims are concentrated have recorded on even higher level of deprivation. The MMM noted with dismay that while the Muslim electorate had played a notable role in defeating the communal forces and thus ensuring the formation of a secular government at the Centre, it has been under-represented in the constitution of the Council of Ministers.

The MMM further said that it has decided to organise, in cooperation with other Muslim organisations of national eminence, a National Muslim Political Convention in Aug-Sept. 09 for consultation inter alia on advocating necessary changes in the political and electoral systems so that the Muslim and all deprived groups can be adequately represented. For this purpose a preparatory committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Syed Shahabuddin, Convenor of the Joint Committee of Muslim Organisations for Empowerment (JCMOE).

In a resolution on Reservation for Women, the MMM welcomed the move while cautioning that this should not prove to be a backdoor for the forward castes and the rich to grab more seats in the legislatures. Therefore, the resolution said, it is necessary to provide within any agreed quota for women sub-quotas for the marginalised sections including a specific sub-quota for Muslim women.

The MMM expressed its dismay at the precipitate announcement of the Minister of Minority Affairs that reservation for Muslims is not possible unless the Constitution is changed and said that “The basis of reservation is backwardness of a segment of society and this has been proved by the marathon exercise of the Prime Minister’s own committee headed by a former chief justice of a high court while the reservation for the minorities including Muslims was recommended by an official commission headed by no less than a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of India with the membership of some of our famous legal experts who cannot be ignorant of what the Constitution and polity of India allows or disallows.” The MMM rejecteds this announcement and said that it “smacks of using a Muslim to nullify a genuine right of the Muslim community just as Muslims were used to nullify reservation and status of Urdu in the Constituent Assembly shortly after Independence.” The resolution further said that burying the Mishra Report without tabling it in Parliament will be a betrayal which the Muslim community will not forget or forgive.

On the issue of terrorism, the MMM noted that “while open arms-training by Hindutva gangs continues, Bajrang Dal announces to recruit 25 lakh more workers, Abhinav Bharat terrorist organisation is still functioning and its leaders are at large, the Bhonsala school where the Hindutva terrorists received armed training still functions as if nothing has happened, and Hindutva terrorists are extending their activities to the neighbouring Nepal, arbitrary arrests of Muslim youths in the name of unknown and unproven outfits continues, Muslim youths are routinely acquitted by courts after years of incarceration but without a word of apology or compensation for smashing their careers. The MMM urges the central government to fix a uniform compensation for innocents whose lives and careers are destroyed as a result of prolonged incarceration.” The MMM further said that if the powers that be are serious to fight terrorism, they must also check state-terrorism as it breeds what they claim to check. The MMM registered its alarm that Gujarat under Modi has become the hub where plots are hatched in the name of fighting “terrorism” to kidnap Muslim youths from various parts of the country and take them to the torture cells in Gujarat. The MMM said that the latest plot of the Modi government with the cooperation of other BJP-ruled states is to initiate a witch-hunt against Muslim youths who may have been at any time in the past associated in any way with the banned SIMI. The MMM condemns this witch-hunt and considers the Union home ministry responsible for condoning Modi government’s machinations against the Muslim community in the name of fighting “terrorism”.

In the context of the shameful incident of Shopian and AFPSA, the MMM condemned the continued violation of human rights of Kashmiri civilians by the army and security forces in Kashmir and called for the withdrawal of the army and paramilitary forces from the towns and villages of Kashmir. The MMM also demanded the earliest repeal of the notorious AFPSA law in both Kashmir and the Northeast as it breeds a culture of lawlessness and unaccountability on the part of the armed forces which as a matter of principle must not be used against civilian populations anywhere in the country.

The MMM also warned the UPA government not to be tempted by its majority to implement the so-called“reforms” on the IMF pattern or pro-rich policies. It said that the pro-rich economic model has failed in the West and we should not think that it will succeed in India. The MMM also asked the UPA government to open the doors for the Islamic finance which promotes participation and accountability and discourages greed which is at the heart of the failed capitalist model.

The meeting was attended by the following members of the central majlis: Mr. Syed Shahabuddin, Maulana Ejaz Ahmed Aslam, Dr. Abdul Haque Ansari, Maulana Mohammad Shafi Moonis, Janab Nusrat Ali, Mr. Amanullah Khan, Dr. N. Rasul Siddiqui, Mr. Abdul Rashid Agwan, Prof. Mateen Ahmad Siddiqui, Mr. Mohammad Zaki Ansari, Mr. Akbar H. Jung, Mr. Ahmad Rasheed Shervani, Mrs. Nusrat Sherwani, Mr. Navaid Hamid, Prof. Habibur Rahman, Maulana Mohammad Shaib Koti, Dr. S.Q. R. Ilyas and the following special invitees: Dr. Ayaz Ahmad Islahi (Lucknow), Mr Zafar H. Jung (Delhi) and Mr Syed Irshad Ali (Bhopal).

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Following is the full text of the resolutions:

Text of the Resolutions passed by the Mushawarat Markazi Majlis (MMM)
13 June 2009
1.Obituaries
Golam Osmani, MP and member AIMMM from Assam, died on March 31.
Bollywood actor FEROZ KHAN died on April 27 at Bangalore.
Prof Zafar Ahmad Nizami, poet, author and chairman of Jamia Millia's Political Science Department died in Delhi's Escorts Hospital on 23 April.
MAULANA SAYYID SIBT-E HASAN RAZVI QA’IM NAJAFI, a noted Shia scholar, died in Delhi on 3 May.
Prof Qamar Raees, distinguished Urdu critic, writer and poet is no more. He died of jaundice in Delhi's Batra Hospital on 29 April.
Maulana Raeesul Ahrar Nadwi, distinguished scholar and Shaikhul Hadith of Jamia Salafia, Banaras, died on 10 May.
Maulana Abdul Hannan Qasmi, distinguished religious scholar, died on13 May at his home town Balasaath in Sitamrhi district of Bihar.
Raees Ahmad Jafri, noted Urdu journalist, died at his native village of Mahgar in Allahabad on 6 June.
Noted playwright and theatre personality Habib Tanvir, 85, died on 8 Jun 2009 after a brief illness.
KAMALA SURAYYA, noted writer and poetess from Kerala, died in Pune on 31 May following respiratory problems.
Abul Mujahid Zahid, distinguished Urdu poet Abul Mujahid Zahid died recently.
Khan Abdul Wadood Khan, 79, writer and author, d. in delhi on 28 Feb.
Abdus Salam Khan of Rampur, 92, d. rampur, scholar of Arabic and Islam, author of many books and won awards, died 13 April.
PK Abdur Razzaq Madni, scholar and author, state secretary of Kerala Navatul Mhujahidin, died at age of 73 on 12 april.
Ghulam Nabi Kochak, 81, former J&K minister and leader of Awami National Conference died at srinagar on 28 March.
Maulana Mohammad Ahmad Khatibi, former qazi of Bhatkal and oldest living Bhatkali, became qazi in 1974, died at bhatkal on 12 April.

2.Political resolutions:
Elections 2009, its aftermath and the Muslim agenda
The Markazi Majlis-e-Mushawarat (MMM) of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) welcomes the result of the General Election, 2009, particularly the defeat of the communal forces and the formation of a secular government under the leadership of the INC.

The MMM conveys its best wishes to the new government for accelerating the welfare of the common people and, particularly, for uplifting of the Muslims and other deprived groups.

MMM is relieved that the communal and divisive forces have been routed thanks to the overwhelming support of the Muslim voter to the secular candidates. The AIMMM hopes that an unfettered UPA will be able to implement the policies and intent announced by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who has said that Muslims on account of their backwardness should have the first claim on resources. The generosity or otherwise of the Congress-led UPA government will decide if the Muslim return to the fold of the Congress is permanent or not.

The MMM is disappointed that very few Muslims were elected to the Lok Sabha raising the Muslim deprivation level to nearly 60% for various reasons, including the denial of tickets by secular parties and the contest among them in Muslim concentration seats and the division of Muslim votes. Indeed, eight states in which the Muslims are concentrated have recorded on even higher level of deprivation.

Also, the MMM notes with dismay that while the Muslim electorate had played a notable role in defeating the communal forces and thus ensuring the formation of a secular government at the Centre, it has been under-represented in the constitution of the Council of Ministers.

The MMM is also disappointed to note that the President’s Address to the Parliament on 4 June, 2009 had little to offer to the Muslim community. In fact, it has not even mentioned the Justice Mishra Commission Report which has been gathering dust for more than two years or reiterated the promise of reservation made in the Congress Manifesto of 2009.

The MMM is of the considered view that the Community must seriously ponder over the political situation and electoral system and formulate an appropriate political strategy and initiate preparation for the next general election in 2014 as well as short-term means for obtaining due response from the UPA Government and all secular parties to its legitimate aspirations.

The MMM decides to organise, in cooperation with other Muslim organisations of national eminence, a National Muslim Political Convention in Aug-Sept. 09 for consultation inter alia on advocating necessary changes in the political and electoral systems so that the Muslim and all deprived groups can be adequately represented.

The MMM decides to form a Preparatory Committee for the proposed Political Convention, with the Convenor of the JCMOE as its Chairman, and requests him to nominate 10 other members, inter alia, to interact with Muslim organisations and eminent personalities and finalise the object and purpose of the Convention, the venue and the programme and the invitation list as well as to prepare a draft Policy Statement and Programme of Action.

Reservation for Women
The MMM welcomes the move to provide reservation for women in the legislatures and considers it a step forward to empower the disempowered in our society but cautions that this may prove to be a backdoor for the forward castes and the rich to grab more seats in the legislatures. Therefore, it is necessary to provide within any agreed quota for women sub-quotas for the marginalised sections including a specific sub-quota for Muslim women.

Obama’s Speech
The MMM welcomes the tone and tenor of the US President Barak Hussein Obama’s speech to the Muslim World in Cairo on 4 June and considers it a good beginning and an attempt to open a new leaf in relations with the Muslim World after eight years of a totally unnecessary crusade against Islam and Muslims under President Bush in the name of fighting terrorism. After this good beginning, the American administration will have to prove its sincerity by actions to show that it is serious about mending fences with the Muslims around the world. If it does so, it will find an enthusiastic response from the World of Islam which has no reason to be at war with the West.

Israeli threats to Iran, Gaza
The MMM is concerned about the continued Israeli threats to attack the nuclear and other military facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the pretext of frustrating Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The fact is that while Iran has signed the NPT, it allows IAEA inspectors to inspect and place cameras in its nuclear facilities and there is no evidence that Iran has nuclear weaponisation plans, Israel on the other hand keeps a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons. The fact is that Israel does not want any other country in the Middle East to challenge its hegemony and total control over the region and this is why it destroyed Iraq’s nuclear facility in 1982 and Syria’s last year. This goondaism continues with the blind support Israel gets from the West in general and the United States in particular. At the same time, Israel continues to threaten the defenceless and impoverished Gaza Strip with another brutal attack on the lines of its earlier aggression of December 2008-January 2009. The purpose of such attack will be to defeat the democratic forces in Palestine and make peace more difficult. The MMM condemns any attempt by Israel and its western backers to prolong the Zionist occupation of Palestine.

Minister of Minority Affairs on reservation
The MMM is dismayed at the precipitate announcement of the Minister of Minority Affairs that reservation for Muslims is not possible unless the Constitution is changed. The basis of reservation is backwardness of a segment of society and this has been proved by the marathon exercise of the Prime Minister’s own committee headed by a former chief justice of a high court while the reservation for the minorities including Muslims was recommended by an official commission headed by no less than a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of India with the membership of some of our famous legal experts who cannot be ignorant of what the Constitution and polity of India allows or disallows. The MMM rejects this announcement which smacks of using a Muslim to nullify a genuine right of the Muslim community just as Muslims were used to nullify reservation and status of Urdu in the Constituent Assembly shortly after Independence. The MMM urges the Union Government to go ahead and place the Mishra Commission in the national parliament and allow an open debate on the issue. Burying the Mishra Report without tabling it in Parliament will be a betrayal which the Muslim community will not forget or forgive.

Terrorism
The MMM notes that while open arms-training by Hindutva gangs continues, Bajrang Dal announces to recruit 25 lakh more workers, Abhinav Bharat terrorist organisation is still functioning and its leaders are at large, the Bhonsala school where the Hindutva terrorists received armed training still functions as if nothing has happened, and Hindutva terrorists are extending their activities to the neighbouring Nepal, arbitrary arrests of Muslim youths in the name of unknown and unproven outfits continues, Muslim youths are routinely acquitted by courts after years of incarceration but without a word of apology or compensation for smashing their careers. The MMM urges the central government to fix a uniform compensation for innocents whose lives and careers are destroyed as a result of prolonged incarceration.

The MMM is of the firm view that if the powers that be are serious to fight terrorism, they must also check state-terrorism as it breeds what they claim to check.

The MMM registers its alarm that Gujarat under Modi has become the hub where plots are hatched in the name of fighting “terrorism” to kidnap Muslim youths from various parts of the country and take them to the torture cells in Gujarat. The latest plot of the Modi government with the cooperation of other BJP-ruled states is to initiate a witch-hunt against Muslim youths who may have been at any time in the past associated in any way with the banned SIMI. The MMM condemns this witch-hunt and considers the Union home ministry responsible for condoning Modi government’s machinations against the Muslim community in the name of fighting “terrorism”.

Shopian incident and AFPSA
The MMM condemns the continued violation of human rights of Kashmiri civilians by the army and security forces in Kashmir. It is time the army and paramilitary forces are withdrawn from the towns and villages of Kashmir and the law and order responsibilities returned to the police which knows the people, their habits and traditions. The notorious AFPSA law should also be repealed in both Kashmir and the Northeast as it breeds a culture of lawlessness and unaccountability on the part of the armed forces which as a matter of principle must not be used against civilian populations anywhere in the country. The MMM noted with satisfaction Union Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram’s recent announcement that the central government is considering the withdrawal of AFPSA and the removal of the army from inhabited areas in Kashmir. The sooner this is done the better.

Economy and Islamic Finance
The AIMMM is anxious that the new UPA government may be tempted by its newfound majority to implement the so-called “reforms” on the IMF pattern. Our government should not follow pro-rich policies. The pro-rich economic model has failed in the West and we should not think that it will succeed in India. The UPA government should strive to innovate a poor-friendly economy in order to raise the living standards of the common man instead of increasing the gap between the rich and the poor. The UPA government should also open the doors for the Islamic finance which promotes participation and accountability and discourages greed which is at the heart of the failed capitalist model.