By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Once it was said Muslims are not politically aware. Today they seem to have become so much aware that several Muslim groups, jamaat and leaders, irrespective of size, age and hold, are forming parties. With general elections round the corner, Muslim political parties have mushroomed – the situation probably forced Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) to defer decision to form its own political party.
In the last week of January JIH held its National Advisory Committee meeting in Delhi with the sole agenda of formation of its political front. Though it was certain it is not going to contest this coming elections, it was widely expected, and some of its leaders told this correspondent, that final decision about the party will be taken in the 3-day meeting starting January 26. But the committee, it is learnt, could not reach consensus on the issue, and the decision deferred.
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Ejaz Ahmad Aslam, Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, expressed concern over the mushrooming of Muslim political parties as general elections are round the corner. “If these Muslim parties did not get united before the elections, they will end up helping BJP.” It is interesting that every Muslim party is being formed with the defeat-BJP agenda. Jamaat does not want to further muddy the situation.
Jamaat will not contest Lok Sabha elections in first go. First it will focus on local bodies elections, and for it, will work at grassroot level, said Ejaz Aslam who is Editor of Radiance Viewsweekly, perceived as Jamaat mouthpiece.
On Muslim strategy for the coming Lok Sabha elections, Muslims should back regional parties, communist parties, and in the absence of them, the Congress party. He, however, made it clear that there should not be any generalized backing for any party. Rather, the community should take decision to support a candidate at constituency level. They should vote for a secular candidate who is in winning position and capable of defeating communal forces.