Muslims have key for formation of next Bihar govt: Ram Vilas Paswan

By Manzar Bilal, Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Muslim votes have been crucial in the formation of governments in Bihar. Therefore, almost all leading parties in the state have been fighting to win their vote. The state is going to vote later this year for assembly, so, once again this battle has geared up with Lok Janshakti Party holding a massive ‘Muslim Rally’ at historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna today.

“Muslims have key for formation of next government in Bihar. They have to decide whom they want to hand over the key for governance. I am sure Rashtriya Janata Dal- Lok Janshakti Party alliance will form the next government in the state if Muslims vote for it unitedly” said LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan while addressing the rally.

Thousands of Muslims from different parts of the state and all top leaders of the party including 12 MLAs and 3 MLCs attended the rally which filled the western part of the Gandhi Maidan. It was the first of its kind rally for LJP in the capital city of the state wherein such huge Muslim gathering was seen on its call. For that, convener of the rally and vice president of LJP Mr. Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem was lauded by the party chief.

“There are two ways to fight for one’s right in the country; to raise voice in the Parliament or Assemblies, and to come out on the road. Muslims need to use both the ways to get justice” he urged adding “You have to make efforts for your right because no one is going to take your matter if you are not active for that.”

He said that it is a fact that Muslims have fought for the freedom of the country and contributed in the building of the nation like other communities but they are branded as foreigners by communalists.

“Those who are naming Muslims as sons of Babur are either unaware of the history or violating the history because Muslims had been ruling India for much earlier. It is true that in the beginning some Muslims came to India from outside who lived here and died here but most of the Muslims were those original residents of India especially lower class people who embraced Islam because of its teaching of equality for all. Thus the number of Muslims grew faster here” he explained.

“When Babri Masjid was demolished we asked why it happened, RSS and BJP leaders replied, because it was built by Babur who was foreigner. We said then demolish Lal Qila (Red Fort) and Taj Mahal because that were built by sons of Babur, bring down Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhawan because they were built by British government who was outsider and anti-nation” he told.

He also criticized central government for ban on SIMI. “SIMI is banned without sufficient evidence, then why RSS, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena are not put in the same dock despite of the fact that they are spreading violence and hate all time” he asked.

Mr. Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem, LJP national vice president, said: “The implementation of Ranganath Mishra Commission report is necessary to bring Muslims on development line. Therefore, we demand central government to take accurate step in this regard without ifs and buts because Muslims have stood up and they no longer will be cheated.”

If LJP-RJD alliance comes to power in Bihar, we will give 10% reservation to Muslims without any condition” he added.

Mr. Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem and Ram Vilas Paswan

He blamed state government for not implementing properly schemes started for welfare of Muslims especially PM’s 15 points Program which worsened the condition of Muslims.

Addressing the rally Mr. Shoaib Iqbal, LJP MLA from Delhi, said: “History has been witnessing that Muslims have been oppressed badly and after they were killed, their properties looted and destroyed, commissions have been set up but when commissions submitted their reports there was no action against guilty. Liberhan Commission report is an example for that.”

He also said that Muslims have given example of real secularism by accepting Hindus as their leaders because their intentions were to build a strong and secular country, yet they have been suspected for all wrong incidents.

“LJP was the first party to put the implementation of Mishra Commission report in its manifesto for 2009 LS election which was followed by almost 22 parties. But unfortunately Congress was not among them” recalled Abdul Khaliq, LJP national general secretary.

“What is the problem with central government when all secular parties are agreed upon for implementation of the Mishra report” he asked

LJP senior leader Salahuddin Khan said that the development of the country depends on communal harmony and unity. Country will never progress till each one raise voice for others’ right. This was the secret behind winning freedom struggle.

Though program was named as Muslim Rally but most of the leaders skipped community issue and they spent their times in praising the Party chief or counting the works done by the party for Muslims. Only few of them spoke for some time on the Muslim issue. Thus the rally lost its name ‘Muslim Rally’ and became LJP Rally.

Others who addressed the daylong rally include Dr. Izhar Ahmad, LJP MLA, Israeel Rayen, LJP MLC, Afzal Abbas, national president of LJP Minority Cell, Ram Chander Paswan, former MP and president of Dalit Sena, Mr. Sabir Ali, Rajya Sabha MP, Dr. Shahnawaz Kaifi, state president of LJP Minority Cell.