Democratisation of Mushawarat is nothing but a farce: Navaid Hamid

New Delhi: Newly-elected Mushawarat Central Working Committee member Navaid Hamid has sent a strong letter of protest to Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, president of the organization. “Independent observers would be free to conclude that compromises, manipulations and personal choices have over shadowed the true democratic process and the talk for democratisation of Mushawarat is nothing but a farce,” he said to the open letter addressed to Dr. Khan.

Navaid Hamid in the letter said that he has never given his consent for being the candidate and he was surprised to see his name in the ballot. He also alleged that few more names in the ballot also were without consent.

Navaid Hamid

Election results for All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) were announced on Tuesday this week. Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan was re-elected as president unopposed. Dr. Khan, according to the constitution of the Mushawarat and in his capacity as the president nominated 11 members to the Central Working Committee. Navaid Hamid allege that 10 out of these eleven are those members who were in the ballot but lost the election. Not only that but his letter also makes note of the fact that “one out of two Vice Presidents and two of the four General Secretaries of the Mushawarat nominated by you had lost the elections few days back.”

Just two years ago, Navaid Hamid and Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan battled it out for the post of the president of this umbrella body of Indian Muslims. In the end Dr. Khan managed to win by two votes. There has been allegation of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind trying to control Mushawarat.

It is also interesting to note that general body of Mushawarat had elected just three members from Jamaat-e-Islami out of 20. The list of 11 nominated by the president has three Jamat-e-Islami members, all three are those who lost elections.

This is the first election after the merger of the two Mushawarat factions.

Letter of protest to President, All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat

Janab Dr. Zafar ul Islam Khan sahab

Assalam o alaikum

Thanks for the updates about election results, subsequent developments in All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat and information about new team. Congratulations on being elected President of united Mushawarat.

I am a bit bemused with the developments in AIMMM for number of reasons.

1. I had never given my consent for being a candidate in the election process which I came to know only after getting the ballot paper for choosing 20 candidates from large battery of 94 contesting members and had phoned Janab Ahmed Rashid Shervani sahab(Returning officer) for registering my disapproval on the whole process not only because my name was there in contesting candidates with out my approval but also because I had found names of some of the top most renowned and revered Muslims who had contributed for the betterment of the community and struggled for its cause and got impression that number of candidates had never given consent to be candidates for the election to the National Executive AND therefore had not send my postal ballot.

I fail to understand why the office secretary of Mushawarat who was also Asst. Returning Officer for elections in AIMMMM had not communicated to the proposed candidates (who’s names might have been proposed because of love, affection and regard by some proposers) about their final confirmation before sending ballot papers. Don’t you think that its a great injustice to people who lost elections because of no fault of theirs and who might had withdrawn their names from contest if they have been informed about their candidature in advance?

2. Ten out of eleven members nominated by you to the National Executive are those who had lost elections few days back.

3. One out of two Vice Presidents and two of the four General Secretaries of the Mushawarat nominated by you had lost the elections few days back.

I can understand your simplicity and magnanimity in using your prerogative as given in the constitution of AIMMM to nominate members and office bearers of AIMMM but permit me to share that its not only against the mandate of the members of Mushawarat but also the basic values of democracy.

Independent observers would be free to conclude that compromises, manipulations and personal choices have over shadowed the true democratic process and the talk for democratisation of Mushawarat is nothing but a farce.

My sincere apologies if you found some of my words harsh.

While praying for your success, with personal regards

Navaid Hamid
Member, National Executive,
All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat

To,
Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan sahab
President
All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat
New Delhi

Reply of Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan

Mushawarat Presidnet’s reply to Mr Navaid Hamid

Dear Br Navaid Saheb,
Thank you for your comments.
1. The nomination paper sent by AIMMM office clearly said that nominations should be made after securing the permission of the persons being nominated. Thus it is the responsibility of individual members to make sure that this condition is met.

2. The election schedule sent to all eligible voters clearly mentioned the date of the withdrawal of nominations which has to be done, according to the tradition until now, in the office of the AIMMM. Sending nominations again to members for approval will mean that the election process will have to lengthened by another two weeks at least. Oral confirmation or rejection has no values in such issues.

3. Nominations by the President for the Amla [working committee] and other posts are, according to the constitution of AIMMM, to give representation to all sections, especially to the unrepresented. It is a difficult process which is not done according to the personal likes and dislikes but to give representation to all as much as possible and is done in consultation with organisations and members. Another criterion that I take into account is to give preference to persons who are punctual in attending meetings and who are ready to give time when requested.

With warm regards and looking forward for your keen cooperation in AIMMM work where I have no personal agenda or personal need whatsoever.

Zafarul-Islam
9 January, 2014