I feel like crying, a friend’s father whom I met Saturday afternoon told me as votes were being cast in the Delhi election. “For the first time in 40 years, I have not voted for the Congress.” The gentleman is a Muslim and the reason he did not vote for the Congress was simple. “My vote would have been wasted. AAP still has a chance to win against BJP.”
According to the India Today-Axis My India exit poll, 69 per cent of Muslims have voted for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The shifting of the Muslim vote from the Congress to the AAP has made many “almost Sanghi” folks in the Congress grumblingly suggest ditching the Muslim community and pursuing only the majority — Hindus — for electoral gains, much like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Also read: Not Kunal Kamra, the real test for Indian liberals is Sharjeel Imam
Why the shift
But the logic behind the Muslim community’s shift is not only simple but practical. The Muslim voter remains vulnerable in times of the CAA-NRC-NPR, which drives her choice to elect a party that will give her anything but divisiveness.
AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in every speech and interview, has insisted that there was no need to amend the Citizenship Act. He has also continuously spoken of education, development and building infrastructure as part of his election promises.
On the other hand, the so-called alternative to the BJP — the Congress — has not only been passive in its support to Shaheen Bagh but maintained a safe distance from the protests while issuing the caveat that the movement shouldn’t be politicised.
But the truth remains — the protests are very much political. They are very clearly anti-BJP, but only because it’s a BJP project to identify certain Muslim citizens whom it can later call “illegal”.
While Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh have, the holy trinity of the party — Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi — have not quite bothered to extend direct support to Shaheen Bagh.
The same could be said about Arvind Kejriwal, whose Hanuman Chalisa recitation might have earned him brownie points among sensitive RSS-inclined Hindus who also care about development. But the leading Muslim face of the AAP, Amanatullah Khan, has been upfront in showing solidarity with the people of Shaheen Bagh and the anti-CAA protesters.
Also read: How to be BJP’s version of a ‘good Muslim’ – A guide by Arif Mohammad Khan
Congress vs AAP
Muslim leaders from the Congress have remained conspicuously absent from the scene. There is no Muslim leader in the Congress today who holds any sway over the community. Delhi similarly sees no representation whatsoever. There are some regional leaders in Uttar Pradesh — Salim Shervani or Naseeruddin Siddiqui, who fought from Badaun and Bijnor, respectively, in the 2019 Lok Sabha election — but they are as good as non-existent nationally. In that election, the Congress fielded six Muslim candidates in Uttar Pradesh, and all of them lost.
Compare this with the AAP’s outreach to the Muslim community. Last year, Arvind Kejriwal hiked the salaries of imams from Rs 10,000 to Rs 18,000 per month. The salaries of helpers in mosques was also increased from Rs 9,000 to Rs 16,000 a month. These will be paid by the Delhi Waqf Board in 185 mosques that come under it. In fact, Kejriwal went a step ahead and increased the salaries of imams and helpers of mosques that don’t come under the Delhi Waqf Board.
The Congress is slowly and steadily losing its clout over the Muslim community. The BJP’s constant propaganda of calling the opposition party the “Muslim League Congress” has seemingly worked and made the Congress passive when it comes to taking unapologetic stands on policies that are clearly anti-Muslim and communally divisive.
Although the Congress’ initial official stand on the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was to be against it, its prominent leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Janardan Dwivedi, Deepender Singh Hooda and a few others were seen siding with the “nationalistic” view of this move.
Also read: Who represents India’s Muslims? Thanks to CAA protests, we now know the answer
Not just Muslims
The bad news for the Congress is that it no longer appears to be ruling the roost when it comes to minority votes. And the Delhi election is only going to add another chapter to it. According to India Today-Axis My India exit poll, along with Muslims, the Congress is set to score poorly even among the Other Backward Classes (OBC), the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Balmikis.
What also hasn’t helped the Congress is that Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has repeatedly called out the party as being the torch-bearer of draconian anti-Muslim laws — whether it’s the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or the severely abused sedition law — that the BJP is now using against the community or anyone against its views.
After speaking to many Muslim citizens Saturday, my biggest takeaway was this: The overwhelming sentiment driving the voting pattern of the community was to choose someone who was most likely to defeat the BJP. It is desperate, survival time. And one look at the Congress and the AAP makes it clear which of the two can fulfil this basic requirement of the community.
The author is a political observer and writer. Views are personal.
Educated minority members are committed to their community cause, while
‘Educated’ majority members can be bought out for 500₹ subsidy .
‘Development’ is just an excuse. No development project undertaken by AAP. Not a single school/hospital/college built by AAP.
Can you explain why supporting Article 370 abrogation by some Congress leaders is anti-muslim ? Was not Article370 harming India’s interest which includes Muslim citizens also ? Why then Muslims get angry with removal of Article 370 ? Just trying to understand the sentiment.
If Kejriwal had increased the salaries of Imams and other mosque workers and also people of similar position in temples and churches, he would have been a good leader. But the man just used public money to win votes from a particular community–that is cheap. But if you Muslims trust such a man to develop your community, you are sadly mistaken–as you were with the Congress. I’d appeal to Muslims to reflect carefully and see what the BJP has actually DONE against Muslims, I mean, ignore political stances and speeches, if any. You’d find that it has treated Muslims just as it treats any other community, i.e., giving you respect by not trying to cheat you. CAA is not divisive; it is a big lie that it is. If you say CAA will lead on to something bad later, I’ll say, let’s cross the bridge when we come to the river. In sum, Muslims should realize that they are far better off under the BJP than any other party.
BJP is just shown as an anaconda that is out to swallow the Muslims, which is neither true nor possible. Don’t fall for false propaganda, or eeny-tweeny freebies and spoil your future.
Actually its a great thing that Cong is supine and passive wherever there is a strong local party. That way they won’t split the votes. Delhi owes a debt of gratitude to rahul gandhi for campaigning and ensuring everyone votes AAP !!
There is nothing in CAA which you claim as devisive. Its nefarious act by muslims due to their hatred towards modi.
Clergy paid off and token voices of support. A paranoid community and its so-called leaders deathly afraid of opening any discussion on secular social reform. So, what’s new? Congress of 1984 = AAP of 2020. Unlike 1984, BJP’s danda is forcing a welcome reckoning among the community though.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday submitted in the Senate a list of Pakistanis who have been deported from Saudi Arabia in the past five years.
According to APP, the numbers were presented in the Senate in response to a query from Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldin.
As per the list, 285,980 Pakistanis have been deported from Riyadh and Jeddah between 2015 and 2019.
Of these, 61,076 people were sent back from Riyadh and 224,904 from Jeddah. DAWN
Muslims vote against BJP and Hindus will vote for BJP. Polarisation is complete anyway.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, Janardan Dwivedi, Deepender Singh Hooda will all continue to remain in the back benches with not much political future AFAICS
Bring AAP to power in every State of India if u want a secular, honest, sincere government like Delhi.
Does ‘secularism’ mean anti Hindu? India will be flooded with illegal Muslims from our neighbouring countries and Hindus will still chant the mantra of secularism till they become minority. Then there will be no no secularism any more, only sharia law.
When did Indian Muslims voted for BJP other than few Shia and well informed educated Muslims ?
Pehle aap!
Aap ka jawab nahin!!
As a Muslim I declare
The Congress can fool us some of the time and some of us all the time, but it cannot fool all of us, all the time.
This party has exploited our vote, and it is fast becoming the B team of the BJP.
As Owaisi says Muslims must only rely on themselves.
Perhaps it’s not possible to end our exploitation via parliamentary means.
The Supreme Court is Institutionally prejudiced against Muslim, along with the police and state apparatus.
The CAA protests are bringing India’s Muslims together as never before.
New leaders are emerging, who are not stooges and will take India’s 170 million Muslims forward.
The refusal of Muslims to accept being the discriminated and the position of underdogs will end soon.
This coming reckoning will bring great change, after the conflict with reactionary forces, India will prosper And elections will cease to be won on caste or communal arithmetic.
The only criteria will be results like the AAP.
It is time for all good Hindus to join in the struggle with Muslims and unite the people of India as equal citizens as determined by the founding fathers of the great constitution of India.
That is the only path forward, the other path will lead to conflict and civil strife and the destruction of my beloved country.
Institutions are to be constantly nourished to be effective. Sadly that has not happened always. But we must not get disheartened. Every cloud has a silver lining. We have already seen one. Politicians will carefully watch which way the public moves and then jump in front to lead! That is there profession. It’s time to put a united fight to defeat a divisive agenda.
nicely put.
India cannot shelter illegal Bangladeshi Muslims. they must go back. India was divided on religion and Muslims got their fair share.
Ms. Sikander shamelessly advocates voting en-masse by a community. It is precisely such behaviour over the last seven decades that has earned the Muslim community a bad name. Voting en-bloc is akin to herd behaviour/mentality – something which human beings must not be proud of. Unfortunately, she does seem proud of it.
Her elation at AAP’s hike in salaries of imams – ones who are actually responsible for keeping the community backward and in shackles – belies her claims of being a “modern Muslim”. Her visceral hatred for the BJP/RSS apart, the impotent rage against the UAPA and the sedition laws make this article a misleading one. The UAPA was not designed/drafted by the UPA govt to act against people of any particular community. It is the same for people of all communities. Unfortunately, certain peaceful communities have an inherent inclination towards indulging in Unlawful Activities.
why is there no ‘dislike’ option. Author is full of hate n venom against bjp. Why cant so called’ jounos’ be even 1 % unbiased. Dont know what is this empathy that is projected only towards n for muslims. Is there no other community in India.
Just shows that Muslims are like all of us – EVERYONE voted for the broom this time.
Why the imams should be paid by the government….? Only to preach bigotry against the Hindus..? What an irony !
Aftet CAA , Muslims r compel to do tactical voting. Congress was out of scene , nefarious chanting slogans pull the Muslims on back foot so they casted their for AAP.