By TwoCircles.net news desk,
New Delhi: The Joint Committee of Muslim Organizations for Empowerment (JCMOE) has appealed to Muslims to massively support Muslim candidates from big secular parties other than Congress in Delhi. The Congress has not fielded any Muslim candidate in Delhi since 1977.
“JCMOE has taken note of the fact that the INC has not fielded a Muslim candidate from North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat which has nearly 22% Muslim electorate. Muslims are nearly 10% of Delhi population. They have not been represented in the Lok Sabha since 1977. In this context their continued exclusion is indeed unfortunate and has caused frustration and disappointment,” JCMOE convenor Syed Shahabuddin today said.
Delhi has 7 Lok Sabha seats. Though several other parties are contesting in Delhi, the real contest is between the Congress and the BJP.
Almost every social group of the Hindu community including those with much lower proportion in population and electorate has been included by the INC in the list of candidates for 2009. But the Muslims rightful claim on one seat, at least once in every second election, has been once again ignored. The INC obviously takes Muslim votes for granted, seat or no seat, said former diplomat and MP Shahabuddin.
“Muslim community must shatter this arrogant assumption by the Congress leadership, not by voting for the BJP, but by not voting for the INC. The community should massively support a winnable Muslim candidate, as (1) Haji Dilshad Ali (BSP) from Delhi North East, (2) Md. Yunus (BSP) from Delhi East and (3) Mr. Mustaquim (SP) from Chandni Chowk.”
“The JCMOE requests to all secular voters to support them and appeals to the Muslim electorate of Delhi to set a precedent so that the legitimate Muslim claim for due representation is not over- looked in future, in Delhi or elsewhere,” he said.