By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: In a move which signals potential debut of Jamat-e-Islami Hind in electoral politics in immediate future, the leading organization of Muslims has officially allowed its members to fight elections. Although, its members had fought in recently held Panchayat elections “in their individual capacity”.
Informing about the amendment in the Constitution of JIH, its spokesperson Qasim Rasool Ilyas pointed out that after this amendment the ban from the party members to fight elections, has been lifted.
This change marks a radical shift from traditionally held stand of JIH against the idea of participating in electoral democracy in India. In keeping with its earlier position its members had to resign from the organization in case they wanted to fight elections.
The electoral politics was a part of set of Holy cows which the organization had been keeping a safe distance from. It was also because refusing to enter areas marked as “secular” the JIH has consistently been keeping itself limited to religious/Islamic issues.
But lately this cadre based organization has realized that given the situation of Muslims in Indian it can’t remain away from secular issues for long and giving permission to its members to enter electoral politics is probably the climax of this realization.
Political commentators may regard this radical shift as a “late move” but one think that its a welcoming step, howsoever late it might be.
In keeping with this new found love for secular issues the Jamat will also organize a protest rally on “Save India from Poverty, Neo-Imperialism and lawlessness” on 7th of November in New Delhi.
Talking to the press here in the headquarter of Jamat in Jamia Nagar on Monday, Mr. Ilyas said that JIH believes that the government of India is running the country against the basic principles of justice, Non-Alignment and Socialism and this rally will be a protest again these anti-people policies of the government.
Other Muslim organizations like Central Jamat-e-Ahle Hadees, All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat, an umbrella body of several Muslim groups, All India Muslim Personal Law Board and All India Milli Council will also participate in the protest rally.