By Tanzil Asif for TwoCircles.net
Akhtarul Iman who is a former RJD MLA from Kochadhaman, grabbed national headlines during 2014 Lok Sabha election when he ditched RJD to join JD(U) and was named Lok Sabha candidate from Kishanganj Lok Sabha. But in a sudden development he withdrew his candidature claiming that his move was to ensure BJP don’t get benefited due to split of Muslim votes thereby giving a walkover to sitting Congress MP Asrarul Haque Qasmi.
Iman is a powerful orator and is influential in Seemanchal area of Bihar. Recently he as the convenor of Samaji Insaf Front invited All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi to Seemanchal for a public rally. The well-attended rally made rumor mill busy about possible entry of Majlis into Bihar.
Seemanchal refers collectively to four Bihar districts bordering West Bengal and close to the Bangladesh and Nepal border, which has Muslim population of 78% in Kishanganj, 43% in Katihar, 41% in Araria and 37% in Purnia.
The interview below was conducted over the phone in Urdu. Some of the key text have been kept in Urdu.
Tanzil Asif: Have you joined AIMIM?
Akhtarul Iman: No, I haven’t decided yet.
TA: What kind of relation do you have with AIMIM?
AI: We had organised a convention on backwardness of Seemanchal and AIMIM president was the chief guest. They are thinking about fighting election in Bihar, but I haven’t decided yet.
TA: Owaisi had blamed RJD-JD(U)-Congress for backwardness of Seemanchal. You were a RJD MLA too. How are you not responsible?
AI: Responsibility is of to the government. When Laluji was in government, I was not there (in politics), when he came in opposition, I was a RJD MLA. When Nitishji was in government, I was not with him, joined JD(U) during election (Loksabha 2014). It’s the responsibility of the government. What’s there to doubt?
TA: Even if AIMIM fights election in Bihar. It’s sure that they won’t manage to form government. Then condition will be same for you again.
AI: Whoever formed government till now, Muslim minorities were there with them. Muslims have been discriminated the most in Bihar; Muslim dominated areas are most backward. What have they done? In Kerala, people (Muslims) formed a different party to fight election, people should know the result. Are the Muslims of Kerala benefitted or not? And in Assam…
TA: You said when you were MLA, your party was not in power. Same will happen with AIMIM, they are not going to form government in Bihar for sure.
AI: If we were not in government, I did everything possible from opposition, I didn’t limit myself to party, and I fought for minorities. Out of 12,862 vacancies for Urdu teachers, only 2500 were recruited. I raised my voice from RJD, others could not support. Today, Laluji is with Nitishji. 27,000 Urdu teachers were to be recruited, there is complexion involved. No one is saying anything.
Innocent Muslims were killed in Bhajanpura (Forbesganj, Araria). He is not saying anything for justice. When I won for the first time, I thought RJD was a secular party. I did everything thing possible. Rising above the party, I fought for minority rights.
One should always look for options. When people can’t find shadow of a big tree, they try to take shelter under a small tree. People wish for cold water in thirst, when can’t get it, they satisfy with normal water. We thought Nitishji has separated from BJP; his mentality for minorities may have changed. But, mentality of BJP and Nitishji for minorities is still the same.
TA: You were contesting Lok Sabha election on JD(U) ticket and suddenly you withdrew your candidature to ensure BJP don’t benefit from split of Muslim votes. Then why are you going to divide Muslim votes now? Don’t you think this will help BJP?
AI: Decision regarding vote division which was taken then, will be thought only after deciding about fighting election and party. Right now, communal parties are on one side and (grand) alliance is on the other. The intention of the alliance is also not good for minorities. We are looking for third option which can give rights to Dalits and oppressed class.
TA: A few people say “First RJD, then JD(U), then you formed your own Samaji Insaaf Front and now AIMIM. Will you keep changing sides?”
AI: People should know Dalit and Muslim leaders are exploited in every party. Exploited people try to make their way. People who make comments should look back and find out which leader or party have never changed party or alliance. Nitishji was with Laluji, and then allied with BJP. Now, he has separated from BJP and hugged Lalu. Why don’t they ask this question to them? Taslimuddin (MP of Araria) has changed seven parties. MP of Kishanganj Asrarul Haque Qasmi has changed five parties. People should worry more about their leader’s intention and work. People should ask was my work pro-people or not? “Main party ki ghulami se hat kar awaam ki masaaiil k liye ladaa ya party ka Ghulam bana raha?” The thing is these secular parties need minorities, but they don’t need someone who raises minority issues. They need Muslim face; they don’t need leader of Muslims. I felt that deeply. I’m trying to make a new way based on my political experience.
TA: Some say AIMIM is the Muslim counterpart of BJP-RSS. Don’t you think this is a threat to so called “Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb”?
AI: “Hyderabad mein to Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb ko khatra nahi hua”. This party is working well in Hyderabad. Other thing is Muslims live in fear. Muslims are 17% of the population in Bihar. Today, politics is caste-based in UP-Bihar. “Yadavon k aadhaar par Yadav party ka leader ban jaaye, Paswanon k aadhaaar par Paswan leader ban jaaye, Jat ki biraadari k aadhaar par Jat ka leader ban jaaye to kahin se koi ek jut hone ka khatra nahi hota hai, jab muslmanon k darmiyaan mein agar koi leader paida hota hai, to dusre ko khatra badh jaata hai”. This means, those who do such things are communal. They don’t want minorities to develop their own leadership. In fact, those people are communal. They can take our vote but we can’t take theirs? What happens in Laluji’s party? When a Yadav gets ticket minorities vote for him. But, when a minority gets ticket, Yadavs vote for BJP. Now, you decide, who is communal?
TA: Bihar is always seen through the lens of caste politics. AIMIM also says “Jai Bhim, Jai Mim”. Will this party too repeat same old formula?
AI: They are not doing Dalit-Muslim politics. “Uski safaai to wo party waale denge, uski safaai main nahi de sakta”. But, as far as I feel, if someone is rising voice of the oppressed class, that’s a good thing. “Mim ka jo haal hai, Bhim ka bhi wahi haal hai. Agar dono mazlum, dono langde-lule ko koi sahara de raha to isme diqqat ki kya baat hai. Jin logon ne inko langrha-lula kar rakha hai, unpe to log awaaz nahi utha rahe hain, ye to bada ajeeb sa maamla hai”
TA: If BJP forms government in Bihar because of AIMIM, won’t you regret that?
AI: These are speculations about the future. We can’t say anything about that. Don’t we regret that for 68 years minorities have been with secular parties, and they have left us in bad condition? These secular parties have always scared minorities of RSS and fascist votes and taken their votes. At the time of independence, Muslims had 23% share in employment, the masses of Muslims are standing with begging bowls in hands.
Muslim population is highest in Kishanganj and 79% people here are BPL holders. People don’t see these discriminations. It’s very sad that Muslim youths don’t get jobs, they are rejected in interviews. They are not recruited in police.
Those intellectuals who indulge in these kinds of discussions, why do they remain silent when jobs of 12,000 Urdu teachers comes under fire. Recruitment of 27,000 teachers are on hold, why are they silent about it? They are not looking at the present, not talking about the present. They are busy speculating about the future.
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Tanzil Asif is Student of PG Diploma in Radio and Television Journalism at
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi. He is on Twitter: @tnzl_ and Facebook: www.facebook.com/theXzeal