By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: In the newly-created Patliputra Lok Sabha constituency, there is a fierce fighting among three Yadav leaders for one-upmanship but their parties have deployed Muslim leaders to win Muslim votes, sizable number in the constituency. For the seat RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, JD-U leader Dr. Ranjan Prasad Yadav and Congress candidate Mr. Vijay Singh Yadav are in the fray.
Muslim leaders are addressing several rallies in a day along with attending road shows in the constituency especially in Muslim areas. They are visiting Muslim educational and religious centers such as Imarat-e-Shariah and Khanqah Mujibya wearing Muslim caps to meet Muslim clerics.
On one hand, central minister of state Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi, RJD state president Abdul Bari Siddiqi, ex-minority commission chairman Suhail Ahmed Khan and many other senior Muslim leaders are busy in seeking votes for Lalu Prasad Yadav. Meanwhile, Imarat Ahl-e-Ansar has announced to support to RJD after meeting of members of the Imarat with Lalu. Ansari Muslims constitute almost 1.5 lakh in the constituency.
“The victory of Lalu is necessary to defeat communalist extremists because he is the only leader who always stands against anti-Muslims anti-national leaders” said Ashraf Ali Fatmi at a rally.
“It is fighting between communal and secular parties. So, you have to decide whom you should vote for. On one side is L.K. Advani’s party and on the other is Lalu, Paswan and Mulayam’s alliance” said Abdul Bari Siddiqi addressing a gathering.
On the other hand, Congress senior Muslim leaders are also trying to attract Muslim voters. Ex-chief minister of J&K, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha, Mr. K. Rahman Khan and others are visiting the parts of the constituency seeking vote for Congress candidate.
“Congress is the only party which can give justice to all Indians irrespective of their religions, castes and creeds. Earlier Lalu and now Nitish is pushing Bihar behind. But now Congress became active in Bihar and will play a vital role in development of Bihar” said Mr. Azad at a rally.
NDA Muslim leaders are also campaigning in favor of JDU candidate Dr. Ranjan Prasad Yadav. BJP senior leader Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain, JDU leader Mr. Nematullah and Rayees Azam are in front row to campaign for Dr. Ranjan Prasad Yadav.
It was shocking for many Muslims when Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain openly defended Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a press conference here and slammed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for describing the RSS an outfit made of dissolute and degenerate.
“Does he even know the role the RSS has played in the process of nation building? Despite being a non-political organization, it has produced a number of leaders that India owes its gratitude to. For Lalu to say that the RSS is a gang of the depraved is an insult to a lot of leaders and he should issue an unconditional apology to the entire nation,” Hussain said.
The BJP leader also accused Yadav of cheating and duping the Muslims of Bihar by portraying himself as their well-wisher.
“Lalu was never a Muslim sympathizer; he just pretended to be one to enhance his political ambitions and agendas while ignoring social and economic issues concerning the Muslims” he added.
However, these statements betray the fact that so-called Muslim leaders are being used by the political parties. They are not interested in solving the community problems; rather they are trying to please their political bosses and for that they can go to any extent.