Can the relationship stand the test of time?
By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net
In Gujarat for long, a perception has been molded that Congress is a party of Muslims and BJP is the savior of Hindus. Although congress hasn’t done much to acquire that tag line except providing handful of tickets to the community, but it was Gujarati Muslim who made Congress their party of choice and provided unconditional support to it for decades.
Like rest of Indian Muslims things are now changed for Gujarati Muslims too, security is not their only concern; Muslims in Gujarat are not ready to vote only because some secular party is promising to provide them sanctuary.
So how Gujarat Congress is surviving the challenge to keep a hold on their Muslim vote bank which has increasingly getting disillusioned by the party’s recent majoritarian inclination. The Muslim factor in Gujarat elections has often being blown out of proportion, Gujarati Muslims which amount to 9% of state population has influential presence in 34 constituencies of 183. But at the end of the day it is other 91% which will decide the fate of the political parties. Gujarat Congress is also making a steady image makeover to make a mark in the majoritarian politics of Gujarat.
Mohammed Patel Phansiwala is a Congressman by heart and he himself said that he is a born politician. He has been MLA from Bharuch district for two terms and in 2004 made a failed attempt to gain Bharuch Parliamentary seat. Mr. Phansiwala believes that his party is not running way from the Muslims, as perceived by political pundits when his party allotted just seven election tickets to the community. Mr. Pahnsiwala considers that there is a dearth of capable and charismatic Muslim candidates who can get mandate in their favor in this communally hostile condition that is why his party alloted just seven tickets.
When asked about possibility of Guajarati Muslims shifting their allegiance to BJP with or without the face of Narendra Modi, Mr. Pahnsiwala was quick to divert the question by saying Gujarati Muslims want just security and satisfaction for their education and living needs.
Mr. Phansiwala also added that contrary to perceptions BJP govt. is neither playing any role in the economic development of Muslims or solving their problems, Mr. Phansiwala who struggles to run a dental medical college in Bharuch said he is fighting in court to get the permission for the establishment of minority medical nursing college which is being delayed by the BJP Govt.
Mohammed Patel believes that Muslims in Gujarat are developing on their own not by the help of Govt. and Narendra Modi is executing a propaganda to take the credit. But if that is so, why Congress is not executing a counter propaganda against Modi? Mr. Phansiwala said his party believes in positive work and will never indulge in negative politics.
Mohammed Patel also said that it is difficult for a Muslim candidate to win because Narendra Modi has made Muslims look demons in the minds of Hindus, but his party is striving to protect communal harmony. But is Congress succeeding in their efforts? Mr. Phansiwala said situation is not the same as it was there is 1995 or 2002, communalism is fading away and he believes by restoring communal harmony his party will keep a hold on the Muslim support.
Congress before the elections has made an interesting attempt to gain the confidence of its Muslim cadre. For the first time in Gujarat a political party has established a Minority Women Cell of the party. Noorjahan Dewaan a social activist turned politician is its president.
According to Ms. Noorjahan Muslim women are now more aware and demanding equal rights. She said Muslim women issues are not just restricted to Talaaq or Burqa they now want education and employment opportunities. And Ms. Dewaan believes it is possible only if Congress govt. comes to power as BJP Govt. is not forming any separate plan for Muslims, and not implementing the central plans for Muslim women, and she called it Modi’s ‘Badbahavana’ not ‘Sadbhavana’.
Ms. Noorjahan also said that Minority Women Cell is not a poll plank of the congress to mobilize Muslim women just to get their votes and it will not become defunct soon after the elections, but it will continue to strive for making Muslim women politically more active, so they can also win public posts.
It is a general tendency in democracy that communities will always want to sideline with the most powerful, can the continuous defeats of Congress force Muslims to choose the alternative or secularism slogan of Congress will again work on Muslims and they will remain loyal towards Congress, will the Congress party and Guajarati Muslim relationship stand the test of time all will be decided on the election result day.
TCN coverage : Gujarat 2012 election