By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net
Lucknow: Muslim organizations who claim to do Pasmanda (backward caste) politics and champion the causes Muslim dalits, have different favorites in UP elections.Two Mgroups, one cause but appeal for vote to different political parties in the state elections. It may sound a bit surprising but in any elections it is the same story vis a vis Muslim organizations.
The case in point is All India Dalit Muslim Morcha (AIDMM) and All India United Muslim Morcha (AIUMM) both based at Lucknow and championing the cause of inclusion of Muslims in SC list. The restriction is enforced through a presidential order issued in 1950 restricting Christians and Muslims to be included in SC list thus depriving them of dalit status and reservation benefits.
Both the groups have been organizing programmes and seminars in the state for quite some time. On Friday, the two outfits announced their support to political parties in the elections. The AIDMM headed by Salahuddin Sheebu announced that it will support Samajwadi Party (SP)
as it is Muslim friendly and is supporting their cause.
Barely 500metres away the chief of AIUMM headed by Dr MS Siddiqui announced its support to Congress in elections. It even brought Congress general secretary, Digvijay Singh on its platform to substantiate its support. Both of them pledged that their demands will be met by these parties in the elections.
“Samajwadi Party has done a lot for Muslims. It recruited Urdu teachers, constructed Haj house, issued grants to madarsas and even made one Muslim lawyer as advocate general,” said Sheebu of AIDMM.
He also stated that on December 5, 2006 the SP government in the state has passed the resolution from assembly for lifting religious restriction on Article 341 so that Muslims and Christians can be included in dalit list.
On the other hand, AIUMM chief Dr MA Siddiqui stated that Congress has given reservation to minorities, started the multi sectoral development programme, provided weaver package and is seriously contemplating several pro-Muslim schemes and thus it should be supported in assembly.
Surprisingly, at ground level none of these organizations seem to have any major support as their movement for lifting religious restrictions under article 341 has failed to come from outside
conference hall.