One Support Many Question

Muslim Organisations Support Mayawati

• The Jatav-Muslim equation and politics in Western UP
• The history of the Ulema Council and its role in current politics
• The AMU Students' Union and questions surrounding its support for Mayawati
• The potential for fragmented Muslim votes and the BJP's advantage
• The real issues of the Muslim community versus the politics of secularism

The reasons for Mayawati's defeat in 2012 and the lack of trust in her

In the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has received support from several Muslim organizations. The Ulema Council, the AMU Students' Union, and others have extended their support in the name of protecting secularism. However, questions arise as to whether this support will benefit Mayawati and whether the real issues facing the Muslim community—unemployment, poverty, and education—will be addressed.

Hare Ram Mishra

In a surprising narration of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati found support to many social and political organisations.

In these, some of them are- Maulana Ansar Raza led the Garib Nawaz Foundation, Acharya Pramod Krishnam led Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti, AMU students' Union, Shahi Imam Ahamad Bukhari, and Maulana Rashadi led the Olema Council.

It is measurable that the first phase of the election is ahead, and all these constituencies under this phase is Muslim dominated. So it is hoped that Muslims can stand in favour of BSP candidates. In these seats, it is believed that the Jatav and Muslim combination may support Mayawati, but the political scenario indicates the serious division of Jatav and Muslim voters in western UP. As political experts are explaining the scenario, Jatav voters are divided between RLD, BJP and BSP. And, Muslim voters are with the Samajwadi Party, BSP, and Owaisi-led AIMIM. But in the last time of polling, if any voodoo happens, Mayawati may be strong. It is also interesting that the BJP is losing its supporters every day, and its popularity graph is reducing sharply in Purvanchal.

The basic logic behind the support of Mayawati is based on the logic of preventing the dispersal of Muslim votes. If the dispersal of Muslim votes becomes in local parties, BJP and RSS will be strong politically in UP. In Eastern Uttar Pradesh(Purvanchal), the Olema Council is the dominant player of politics and is centralised in only Azamgarh. As we know, the Olema Council came into existence in 2007, when the Batla House fake encounter incident happened, and two youths from Azamgarh were killed by the Police. It was the time when Mayawati was in power in Uttar Pradesh. Maulana Rashadi, who organised a strong protest against the Batla House incident and the terror politics of Hindutva. No doubt Rashadi played a good role against Hindutva terror. In that protest, he was also against Mayawati. But lack of prudence, he lost his power.

And in present, the Olema Council is not strong in Azamgarh, and has a marginal place in state politics. Looking at the gloomy situation for the party, Rashadi has withdrawn all its 84 candidates' nominations and announced political support to BSP. And few others, also supported BSP on the name of dispersal of Muslim votes.

It is also interesting that all non-political organisations that announced support to BSP supremo Mayawati is little known in society. Their base in society is completely disputed. But, I am surprised why the AMU Students' Union has supported Mayawati? It is also a fact that student unions have no base in society. But how AMU students feel the security and safety of both Muslims and secularism with Mayawati, could not be understood. And, how much their support will be helpful to BSP, is under discussion.

All this support, came in favour of Mayawati, based on the name of the safety and protection of 'secularism'. An ambience has been created that secularism is in crisis and Mayawati can secure it. Although Mayawati has an excellent history of Hindutva support and her base vote is highly communal and anti-Muslim. Knowing all this, why are Muslim intellectuals trusting Mayawati? If Jatav voters divide in parties like BJP, RLD and AIMIM, the Muslim vote wouldn't protect Mayawati. She can get only bargaining power in the assembly.

One more thing, we must discuss here. Has the Muslim of India become the coolie of secularism? When will they begin to discuss their basic problems like unemployment, poverty, education and social security? Can we hope a strong discussion on these important issues in this election? When Muslim community start talking about secularism, their basic questions disappear from political discourse.

It is another question whether the support announced for BSP will help to protect secularism. Mayawati has a suspected understanding of secularism. Her last period of government was remembered golden time for Hindutva politics in UP. Then why are Muslim intellectuals trusting on Mayawati over secularism?

I am also watching deeply the scenario of western UP. I am not looking the centralization of Jatav vote in the favor of BSP. We don't forget the violence of Dalit community against Muslims in the Muzaffarnagar riots. The scenario has not changed, and mistrust is alive in society. And, the presence and activities of RSS in western UP has increased. Alll work and training of RSS is running in Dalit community. Mayawati also has no any strong tactics to attract their base vote with BSP.

Actually, With the question and basic logic of 'defeat BJP' is losing the Muslim community. Although it is important question but why are we scared to discuss the basic issues of the Muslim community? Securing secularism is not a panacea for the problem of Muslims like poverty, illiteracy and social backwardness. In her last government, Mayawati exhibited anti democratic behavior at many places and acted like a dictator. By this anti-people behaviour, she badly defeated in 2012, assembly election. Who will take the responsibility for not preventing that? Everybody takes a lesson from failures, but not Mayawati. Mayawati has deceived Muslims many times. Muslims must not trust Mayawati.

Overall, it has cleared that basic issues of the Muslim community will not be discussed in this election also. It is sad full that the Muslim Community has been trapped by some tout.. There is no hope for development and progress for this community.