By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
The clear verdict in Uttar Pradesh is the result of clear thinking of the voters including Muslims who constitute around 20%. As was clear from the TCN ground stories from Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Varanasi and Khaleelabad, Muslim leaders also say there was a strong anti-incumbency against Mayawati government of Bahujan Samaj Party, resulting in Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh getting full and clear majority in the 403-seat Assembly.
“The UP verdict is a victory of democracy; people should be congratulated for mature thinking,” Dr Manzoor Alam, General Secretary, All India Milli Council, told TCN over phone while giving his comment on the verdict.
Why Muslims went to SP?
“BSP neglected Muslims in a planned way in all spheres. Like other parties it wanted to win Muslims just on security issue. It disrespected Muslims. Mayawati worked only for her own castes. BJP and Congress are national parties. Muslims can’t go to BJP and did not show interest in Congress. So they preferred a regional party to take on another regional party,” says Dr. Alam.
Mujtaba Farooque, National President, Welfare Party of India told TCN: “Though neither SP nor BSP has done any good for the community, but people had little options. There was an anti-incumbency factor.”
Did SP’s 18% Muslim quota promise work? “It is not true that Muslims got swayed with SP’s 18% quota promise, but it worked,” says Dr. Alam. Besides, its promise for release of innocent Muslim youths, education and Urdu also worked, he adds.
And he says that clear victory of SP is a challenge for the party as well – it will have to perform – and a warning to Congress. “It is a challenge for the SP as to how fast it implements its manifesto. Muslims can’t live on lollypop. We need security and reservation in all security forces, development,” says Dr. Alam.
“Congress should take a lesson. They still have two and half years for the Lok Sabha elections. If they do not keep promises made in 2009, it will get similar result in 2014,” he warns.
|
Uttar Pradesh Result Status |
|||
|
Status Known For 403 out of 403 Constituencies |
|||
|
Party |
Won |
Leading |
Total |
|
Bahujan Samaj Party |
16 |
67 |
83 |
|
Bharatiya Janata Party |
6 |
40 |
46 |
|
Indian National Congress |
5 |
23 |
28 |
|
Nationalist Congress Party |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Rashtriya Lok Dal |
1 |
10 |
11 |
|
Samajwadi Party |
52 |
167 |
219 |
|
Others |
2 |
13 |
15 |
Source: Election Commission of India (4pm, 6th March 2012)
Did Muslims reject 4.5% quota given by Congress?
Yes, say Dr. Manzoor Alam and Mujtaba Farooque. They say it was just a lollypop and won’t help Muslims.
“The 4.5% minority quota within the OBC quota of 27% just before election was taken as a lollypop by Muslims who needed roti to eat. Its implementation was not clear. If Congress wanted it could have implemented in other states,” says Dr. Alam.
Mujtaba Farooque says: “Muslims rejected 4.5% minority quota because they thought it rather than giving took away the space. Only Muslims were getting 2.63% within 27% OBC quota but this 4.5% has been given to all six minorities.”
Performance of Muslim parties
Both Dr Alam and Farooque admit Muslim political parties performed poorly because they were not united.
Dr. Manzoor Alam says: “They came up to secure the rights of the community. The intension was good but strategy was not. They should have taken a unified approach, there should be one voice and they should have included all weaker sections. But they remained scattered.” He further says: “Still there is time for a united front and Milli Council will work for it.”
Mujtaba Farooque says: “No Muslim political party came with ideology. They were slipping on ticket distribution and money matters.” He also admits: “There should be an umbrella of Muslim parties to present an alternative for NDA and UPA. WPI could not take off fully in UP. We could have worked to bring in Ulema Council and Peace Party under the umbrella.”