Waqf Secularists and Muslims

 

Ever since amendments to the waqf act were passed by Parliament Indian political class has got divided into self - proclaimed secularists and non-secularists/ majoritarian, both allege to work for the benefit of Muslims. The former are termed as pseudo secularists by the latter and the latter is associated with Godse, and RSS by the former. The former comprises of India alliance+ AIMIM of Asaduddin Owaisi and the latter comprises of NDA alliance. The former projects itself as the sympathiser of Muslims and stands with the former waqf Act irrespective of its short comings and even some chief ministers of this alliance have openly conveyed that they will not apply this act in their state irrespective of its constitutional validity. They term the present act as an attack on the rights of Muslims. While as the latter question the crocodile tears of the former and put forward Muslim backwardness as a proof of using them as a vote bank in last sixty years of their rule. They also project the misappropriation of waqf property by some members of the waqf boards. They find refuge in the words of Prime minister Modi that every Muslims must carry Quran in one hand and computer in the other. They have taken steps to change wrong practices like Tripple talak, got a bit appreciation from Muslim ladies and bashing from orthodox contrary to this the other accepted the point of clergy in Shah Bano case at the cost of Muslim women. While one gave extra judicial powers to waqf act, the other through amendment wants to keep the supremacy of constitution intact. The NDA alliance is gearing for uniform civil code while as the India alliance through Hindu code bill only changed Hindu practices, so the former accuses the latter of having appeasement of Muslims not their welfare in mind. Both try to prove the other side wrong and carry their own logic. In this din, some political leaders have crossed all limits in instigating Muslim and the result is Murshidabad where in Hindu families had to migrate to nearby districts to save their life for no fault of theirs. It is worthwhile to point out here that certain sections of Muslim community enjoyed to their hilt by acting as the conduit of the ruling parties and the whole community has to bear the label of appeasements from the other side. In both cases the interest of the politician gets served, the general public is in the vicious circle of aggression and counter aggression and it has become quite difficult to understand who works for the upliftment of Muslims and who uses them as a vote Bank (as both claim their doings for the benefit of Muslims). This makes it imperative to understand the truth behind these claims. Let us try to understand all these claims under three heads. Vote Bank Politics: Muslim comprise 14.2% of the country's population or roughly 172 million people as per 2011 census. It is the second largest religion in India. In fact, India is the second biggest country with Muslim population in the world. The estimated number of Muslims in India for 2024 was projected to be around 204,760,392 and they have a significant role in elections. It is no secret that over the years they voted amass for India alliance as it has been successful in projecting BJP as anti Muslim. Their strategy for winning elections has been Threat + appeasement to grab muslim votes and division of majority community along caste lines to align one or two caste to get power. It is surprising to see that despite the commotion of the secular parties about their guardianship of Indian Muslims, their literacy rate is lower than national averages and even much lower than other minorities like christians or Jains or sikhs as per 2011 census. The same thing was expressed by Rajinder Sacher in his report popularly termed as sachhar committee report.The committee held that 25% of muslim children in the age group of 6 - 14 years age have either never attended school or have dropped out. At higher education less than 4% muslims are graduates or diploma holders as against the national average of 7% for age group of 20 and above. At post graduate level only one out of twenty students is a Muslim. Education is the most powerful tool for the socio-economic development of a nation, more so for minorities. The educational backwardness closes their door for participation in the administration of the country and Modi cant be held responsible for it.He has not made them illitrate after coming to power in 2014. It is worthwhile to put to his credit that scholarship given to Muslim students during the first term of Modi Government 2014 and 2019 stood more than the scholarship given to them during the second term of Manmohan Singh Government. This makes one to believe that they have been simply used by self proclaimed secularists to further their own interests. For this they used elites of the community and these elites find themselves at a loss when steps for general public are taken.

Neglecting pasmanda Muslims:

Islam forbids caste system but class and status divide in the community is quite visible. There are various sects like Shia-Sunni, Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafi or Maliki, Bohras, Ahmediya's, Whabi's, Sufi etc. They are broadly catagorised as Ashraf (High class), Ajlaf (low class) and Arzal (lowest class). Ashraf are supposed to be the direct dissedents of arab Imigrants. They comprise like sayids, Shaykhs, Khans, Mughals and pashtuns etc. and are prosperous. They are educated and get a lions share of benefits given to Muslims community leaving poor mauslims far behind. This led to the formation of Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz in 1998 by Ali Anwar (M.P.) from Patna (Bihar). The presence of backwards in Muslim community dates back to 1901census when 133 low caste among Muslims were recognised as backward. Pasmanda Muslims comprise more than 85% of Indian Muslim population. They are categorised as Ajlaf and are low caste converts. They are not only discrimnated but also least represented group among Muslims of India. According to Ajaz Ashraf around 7500 MPs were elected between 1st and 13th Loke Sabha, out of them 400 were Muslims and only 60 of muslim parliamentarians were from Pasmanda community. The Ashrafs though 2.01 percent of India's population represented 4.5% of the seats between first and thirteen loke sabha.

 Indian Muslims have self marginalised themselves:

Low education along with poverty and backwardness has developed sense of aloofness in the community. The so called secular parties have shown least interest in their development making them to fall an easy prey to fundamentalist forces. It may no not be wrong to point out that Muslim community too has not contributed its part for educating its masses. India can be Vishwa Guru only when every Indian grows to a higher level so any sectarian approach is worthless. It is no doubt that self-interests makes politicians not only to think in a flimsy manner but sometimes they appease their voters with extra constitutional bounties without thinking about its impact on future generations. Wrong narratives are made a rule and the vast majority of common citizens have to bear the brunt. Indian political class may have to overcome its divisive approach if it really wants India to attain new heights. They may have to adopt India first approach in their outlook. Economic growth can sustain only when humans also grow uniformly.

DISCLAIMER: 

The views expressed in the Article above are M K Bhat views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:  M K Bhat and Koshur Samachar-2025, May