New Delhi: While political parties are religiously concentrated on forging alliances and making new friends to grab Dillik ki Satta (central government) the Muslims, as the largest religious minority, feel detached thinking nothing will change for the community whoever comes to power. However, they have some genuine demands, both at local and national level, from the coming new government.
Muslims demand inclusion of the community in the reservation categories. They want more representation in legislatures, from Parliament to Panchayat. But what they urgently want from the new central government is the end of victimization of the community in the name of war against terror. Locally, they cry for proper civic amenities in Muslim dominated areas and a program for their development. But they are not much hopeful.
Ask about their expectations from the coming government at the centre, they will say: whoever comes to power, none is going to work for the welfare of the Muslim community. No political party is thinking honestly for the development of the community. They are using it just as a vote bank.
This is the general feeling of Muslims in any city.
A Jama Masjid area resident in Delhi says: No government works for the Muslim community. We have got fed up. In this Jama Masjid area there are several colonies which have no hospital and no marriage hall. No party, whether it is Congress or other, is sincere about the community. They just exploit the community for their own benefits. They treat us as vote bank.
Another one is more critical of the Congress for its apathy towards Muslim community since Independence: “The Congress has not done anything for the Muslim community. Since 1947 the party never fielded a Muslim candidate in Delhi. Congress is an open enemy of the Muslim community. Since Independence the party did nothing for the community. Muslims are being treated as a vote bank.” He demands more representation in legislature and “the government should stop the victimization of Muslim community in the name of terrorism.”
There are many in Delhi who want that Muslims should be given their rights. They should be given reservation. The government should sincerely work for the economic development of the community.
Like many in Delhi a Patna Muslim also does not pin much hope on the government. He says: whoever comes to power, none is going to work for the welfare of the Muslim community. Like in other parts of the world Muslims are being humiliated in India also. In the name of terrorism the community is being victimized. No political party is thinking honestly for the development of the community. They are using it just as a vote bank.
(Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan in Patna, Mumtaz Alam Falahi in Delhi)
