By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
As the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has emerged victorious in the Lok Sabha elections, with thumping support of Muslims among others, the largest religious minority has high – and genuine expectations – from the central government. Some, however, are not pinning much hope.
The Congress-NCP alliance has swept all the seats of Mumbai. Of six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, Congress has bagged five and NCP one. While many Muslims in the metro are rejoicing that their supported candidates have registered victory but some are so disappointed that they have lost hope of something good from the next government.
Rafiq Memon, an active member of Maharashtra Congress hangs a large banner at his residence in Oshiwara, Jogeshwari and is very happy that Congress-led UPA would be in rule for the second consecutive term. ‘The victory is the triumph of Secularism. Congress is a beautiful amalgamation of all the castes. It works for the development of the country.’
‘Since Congress is committed towards providing complete security to the citizens it is expected that in the future no riots will take place. During the last tenure the business development saw a great increase. Around 60% slum residents have now been provided with the flats to live in. The Metro Train service soon to be introduced in Mumbai will be a great work of Congress,’ says Rafiq Memon proudly.
Iqbal Bhai, Iqrar Ahmad and Ram Milan Verma of the same area expect that UPA government will check the trend of security agencies whereby they falsely implicate Muslim youths in terror cases. ‘Justice too should be provided to all the Muslims. The reports of Sri Krishna Commission and Sachar Committee should be implemented. Besides, the new government should provide reservation to the Muslims.’
Ehsanullah Chowdhary of Anand Nagar says, ‘Though we are not sure that the UPA will do anything for the country yet we demand that Muslims should be given all the rights they deserve according to the Muslim Personal Law.’
Kamal Ahmad of Behram Bagh says that since independence there has been the rule of the Congress for the most of the time but it did nothing for common people. However, he demands that the new government should put an end to the ‘unemployment’.
‘We do not expect anything. The only thing we want is that the government should ensure that we lead a peaceful and tension free life. We request them ‘Kamane Khane Do’ (Let us earn and lead our life,’ says Abu Bakar of Anand Nagar in Jogeshwari.