When Muslims try to build resistance and form party, they are blamed for being spoilers: WPI Raj President

    By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,

    Jaipur: We met Engineer Rashid Hussain, Rajasthan state President of Welfare Party of India, at the state headquarter, located in the basement of a building.


    Support TwoCircles

    At first look, the deserted dilapidated state of office, looks anything but headquarter of a political party that is contesting elections in the state. Even Hussain comes out to you, not as a regular politician, but an educated technocrat frustrated with the system who has taken the plunge to change it from within.



    Briefly detained by police, Engineer Hussain fought legal battle with his erstwhile multinational-company for compensation, before joining politics.

    Welfare Party had originally decided to field at least five candidates, but for some technical reasons, only four candidates could file the nominations: Advocate Paker Farooque from Hawa Mahal (Jaipur), Retired Additional Commission Mushtaq Ali from Jhunjhunu, Fasahat Ali from Sawai Madhopur and Saifullah from Kota South.

    On the last day of withdrawing nominations, under intense pressure and some back channel agreements, WPI, however, withdrew its candidate from Sawai madhopur in favour of Congress rookie Danish Abrar.

    Speaking to TCN, Engineer Hussain says, “Our main issues in this state are those not addressed by the ruling parties, especially those of the minorities and the weaker sections.”



    Rajasthan state President of WPI Engineer Rashid Hussain.

    Mentioning about the Gopalgarh firing, and murder of SHO Phool Muhammad in Soorwal, he says more than 40 communal riots took place, and still very few officers were punished. In the same breath he adds, “Similar things happen to Dalits as well. Dalits issues are also not addressed here properly and the ruling class of the state does not give Dalits and lower castes their proper space.”

    WPI is raking up the issue of over 100 deaths in over 20 communal riots. He uses the oft used cliché to make his point, “justice delayed is justice denied,” and adds that the communal riot is an important issue for the minorities in this elections.

    He says that after every riots, government goes and gives some compensations, but the perpetrators are never brought to justice, thus in a way encouraging the majority community to perpetuate riots.

    When asked to elaborate on the agendas, with which WPI will reach out to voters, Engineer Hussain gradually begins to speak more like a politician, although his voice is still quite in control and is calm.



    Advocate Paker Farooque, WPI candidate from Hawa Mahal (Jaipur).

    He accuses the Congress Government of being dormant for four and half years and to have woken up in last six months to disburse freebies in the name of welfare schemes, “as if citizens are beggars.”

    “They have not fulfilled any of their commitments for four and half years,” he adds.

    But does he see no difference between Congress and BJP? Engineer Hussains says, “Clearly there are many differences. While BJP is ideologically communal, we cannot say the same for the Congress and their cadres. But there are some elements in the Congress who are communal and their number unfortunately is increasing.”

    Without naming anyone in particular, WPI state President, says that although the Muslim leaders, of Congress or any party, win with the help of the community votes, they do not really represent the community or voice their concerns. He says, it’s high time that the minorities too have leaders, who truly represent their community and speak on their behalf, like there are leaders of Jats, Yadavs, Gujjars, Dalits, etc.

    WPI state President again reiterated though that they “will never indulge in communal politics,” and will take on board representatives and concerns of all communities, particularly the marginalized. Engineer Hussain adds, “Communal politics cannot survive in secular democracy.”

    But elections in Rajasthan are often closely fought, and candidates win or lose often with very small margins, in such a scenario, will WPI end being a spoiler?

    Engineer Hussain retorts, “But why not same question is asked when so many regional parties contest elections in other states? The moment any minority individual stands up, or take initiatives to register their grievances, we are questioned. ”



    Engineer Hussain in a meeting at Party State Headquarter.

    Defending WPI , he says that so far Muslims “resist” only through NGOs and hence it is not as effective, adding that it is important that “we become part of the mainstream politics to provide resistance from within” for the better communal environment in this country.

    Welfare Party of India (WPI) is inspired by the ideologies of Jamaat e Islami Hind, and Hussain himself is also a member of JIH. WPI, however, plans to forge a distinct identity and has tried to take members of other communities on board.

    Engineer Hussain reiterated that WPI and JIH are distinct and gave the example of Karnataka where they had different elections’ agenda during last year Assembly elections. He said that they do seek support from JIH, but they are free to decide whom they want to support in particular constituency.

    On their part, JIH has extended their “full support” to the WPI candidates wherever they are contesting elections.

    But what then is their ideological stand? Engineer Hussain says, “We are completely against corporate politics and we champion the socialist politics,” adding, “We have committed cadres and we are not dependent on paid workers.”

    Against all odds, WPI state President is hopeful of “surprising result,” in at least one or two seats.

    (Mohd. Ismail Khan helped in interviewing.)

    SUPPORT TWOCIRCLES HELP SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND NON-PROFIT MEDIA. DONATE HERE