Muslim India

ELECTIONS - FEBRUARY 1997

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CANDIDATE PARTY WARD

1.
MOHAMMAD H. ABRANI
SAMAJWADI PARTY
6

2.
WAQARUNNISA ANSARI
SAMAJWADI PARTY
7

3.
YAQUB MEMON
SAMAJWADI PARTY
10

4.
MOHAMMED MANSOORI
SAMAJWADI PARTY
11

5.
NASIR SHAIKH
SAMAJWADI PARTY
22

6.
SHAKIR ANSARI
SAMAJWADI PARTY
26

7.
SHAIKH ABDUL SALAM
SAMAJWADI PARTY
35

8.
VANI NIAZ AHMED
INDEPENDENT
155

9.
BABA SIDDIQUI
CONGRESS
73

10.
SALEEM BEG
SAMAJWADI PARTY
107

11.
ISMAIL MAKWANA
INDEPENDENT
112

12.
SALMA ALMELKAR
CONGRESS
134

13.
MOHD. HANAN KHAN
SAMAJWADI PARTY
162

14.
SHAKEEL ANSARI
INDEPENDENT
165

15.
ABDUL KHAN
SAMAJWADI PARTY
166

16.
EHSANULLAH KHAN
SAMAJWADI PARTY
168

17.
SHEIKH NOOR MOHD.
INDEPENDENT
185

18.
ZUBEIDA KHAN
SAMAJWADI PARTY
187

19.
SHAKILA ANSARI
SAMAJWADI PARTY
188

20.
NOORJAHAN INAMDAR
SAMAJWADI PARTY
190


TOTAL: 20 ELECTED CANDIDATES OUT OF 221 SEATS

SAMAJWADI PARTY : 14 SUCCESSFUL MUSLIM CANDIDATES
CONGRESS : 2
INDEPENDENT : 4


(SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA- MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 26, 1997)

#231

Dateline: Mumbai/Bombay

· ‘Split votes made all the difference’ , Daily, Mumbai comments on the recent Mumbai Municipal elections. Any poll understanding between Congress, Samajwadi and others of the third force could have routed Saffron Brigade. Unfortunately, Congress, SP, Janata all had the grand hallucination of carrying the day alone. Congress cannot change its stripes. The ‘imperial’ Bombay Congress President, Murli Deora, who had to resign, had earlier held court and expected all others to appear before him. His servile agents failed to convince others. The legacy of Congress arrogance, high-handedness, coterie rule, corruption and deep-seated contempt of Muslims, had sealed its fate.

· Samajwadi Party Bombay President deserved the front page banner photo with those of Bal Thackray and CM Manohar Joshi in Mid-day. Barely 3 years after Supreme Court released him from a trumped up TADA term, he inspired the people with his strong populist image, to be rewarded with 21 seats as compared to 26 of BJP. He could have done better, if third force alliance had been less demanding and more accommodating. The flavour of the election was accommodation and coalition.

· For Shiv Sena-BJP it was a negative vote. They have been non-performers. Minority baiting is still their trump card. The public has silently witnessed Kini-murder handling, Hazare’s corruption charges against state Ministers, the Enron affair, Thackeray’s public outbursts, Sena cadres’ mob attack on Mahanagar daily’s offices, Khairnar’s Dadar residence and Canossa school campus. Once the opposition gets its act togather, all these issues will haunt Sena’s future prospects.

· Total of 20 successful Muslim candidates including SP (14), Congress (2), Independent (4), remained about the same, as in the past when Muslim League held sway over the city Muslim votes. The more things change, it seems they remain the same. Still, the background difference is that Muslims are no longer with Congress, Muslim League suffered because of its servile dependence on Congress, Samajwadi Muslims have upper hand, they have non-Muslim support, their cadre are better placed to face Shiv Sena cadre.

MORAL: Samajwadi Party can make meaningful dents in urban centers with strong Muslim leaders corraling OBCs, Dalits,Uttar Bhartiyas, Muslims and other minorities.

26 FEBRUARY 1997

24 February, 1997

The Editor
The Free Press Journal Mumbai

In a recent First Edition programme of Metro channel, Messers Chandan Mitra and Dileep Padgaonkar were lyrical about the current publication of love letters of Fidel Castro and Sarojini Naidu, and maintain that publication of such letters have given a better insight into the personality of our leaders. They further mentioned the new book by Wolport where Pandit Nehru’s aberrations were hinted at. Both journalists represent the cream of our intelligentsia, and it is a pity that they are so influenced by the analytical baggage of the western culture as to be out of touch with India’s own ethos of what is public and what is private. The West’s compulsion to prove all its leaders as confirmed perverts, and to go all lengths in the guise of research and free speech to titillate the base instincts of the consumer society, should at least be independently and ethically evaluated by respectable names in our media, before they misuse all the facilities open to them to subvert our society.

#228

Editor
The Asian Age FAX 422 9048
Mumbai

24 February, 1997

Mr. M. J. Akbar's suggestion (Asian Age, 23/2, In praise... Gujral) of a permanent role for successful technocrats like I.K. Gujral and Manmohan Singh, without any reference to their political affiliations or fortunes, has some notable precedents at least in neighbouring Pakistan, where non-partisan and exceptional talents of people like Sahebzada Yakub Khan are always drawn upon to ensure stability and continuity to fundamental policy strategies of the nation, even through Government changes. It is amazing that the two performers who have served India with exceptional brilliance, have opposite - rightist and leftist - orientations, but when it comes to India's best interests, they have the capacity to rise above the narrow confines of ideology and with total fidelity and confidence, pursue the policy initiatives, that would have normally been unexpected of ideologues and prisoners of vested interests. It is an open question whether the current coalition polity has blurred the ideological boundaries and pragmatism has thrown a new and more sensible style of governance and that it is this pragmatism that has over ruled all old fixations of the last fifty years, which can easily be traced back to several personalized and party insecurities now passé with the coming of age of political consensus and coalition and opening of new opportunities in economic and social fields.

#227

29 July, 1997

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Prime Minister I.K. Gujral has taken the boldest action of his short tenure by putting the saffron hawks in their place. India’s sorry state whether in political social, economic or international relations can be traced to a misguided hot-headed minority, which has virtually held the nation to ransom. They only speak the language of hate and dissension, and with their aggressive stance in all affairs of the nation, have become a big stumbling block. Their overall contribution to India is a sick country with strife and disaffection writ large over the last fifty years of independence. The elitist leitmotif for the nation’s existence necessitated the brutalisation of the majority of the population. The nation needs a healing touch, a season of rehabilitation and rejoicing, a celebration of its limitless bounties and a sharing of pride in being Indian and least of all, a change of guard. Gujral is the best thing that happened to India.

#360

20 February, 1997


The Editor
The Asian Age FAX:4229048
Mumbai PHONE:4228391

Sir,

In his article: ‘Mr. Chavan’s revelations: An afterthought’ (Asian Age, 19/2), Parwez Hafeez has taken the old hackneyed line about analyzing the motivations and compulsions of the squealer, which differentiate the media approach from the law enforcement approach, where all information is scrutinized on its merit. It is of no consequence to people why Chavan said, but what he did say has far reaching consequences. Those who have watched the relevant ‘Ru ba Ru’ programme on TV, would have been able to judge that the 50 year old ingrained sycophancy of Congress rank and file itself, is not any earth shaking discovery, if for Mr. Hafeez , Chavan’s revelations, are no revelations. This is the first time, a first hand account of the conspiracy was publicly given and is on record and not only it can, but will be used to strengthen the case against Rao personally, as being the sole manipulator who was instrumental in the perpetration of the most heinous crime committed in independent India, after the murder of Mahatma Gandhi.

As for Mr. Hafeez’s long list of Mr. Chavan’s public support to Rao and his hobnobbing with Sangh Parivar, that has no bearing on his testimony as he should be treated as witness to a crime and cannot be expected to convert to Islam to prove his bonafide as a credible witness. As a media person, Parwez Hafeez should be able to differentiate between what is for public consumption and what is for real.

Parwez Hafeez errs again when he states that Muslim masses have reconciled themselves to the destruction of Babri Masjid. Their leaders might have reverted to their own immediate business of survival, but Babri Masjid has gone too deep in the psyche of Muslim masses to be so lightly and easily dumped in the dustbin of history. It was a good try by Mr. Hafeez to defuse the nightmarish spell, but it will be suicidal for Muslims to slip back into complacency, so soon and for that matter, any time now on.

#221

Friday, February 14, 1997

After the brutal murder of Rajiv Gandhi, his widow had shown exemplary maturity and wisdom in keeping her family safely out of the base routine of Congress politics. It is therefore quite surprising that she had at least not publicly renounced any plans to wrangle a Government accommodation for her soon to be married daughter. Congress is not in power and probably will not stage a comeback very soon. In such conditions, she will no doubt have to face adverse comments from all the remaining 13 parties and more, besides the opprobrium of general public which is now very aggressive in hounding out corruption in all forms; legal, illegal, para-legal. This is where the advise of some prominent Mumbai activists like Neela Sattanathan and others as published in Mid-day (14/2),comes in as an timely and sincere, well meaning warning for the couple, not to make their life miserable by signing up as free-booters.

#217

Thursday, February 13, 1997

The latest drubbing in polls that Congress suffered is indicative, if one is needed at all, of the serious disarray in its rank and file. If this 110 year old party is to survive for any meaningful contribution to India’s future, it will have to go through a drastic metamorphosis. The patchwork surgery of Sitaram Kesari has not cured the party of it deep malaise. Until and unless the party can produce and resurrect a clean leader who is dedicated to the country and not in the game for self-projection and self-enrichment, not given to royalist and dynastic ambitions and has clear vision and determination to give the country a progressive and people friendly governance, Congress has its days numbered.

#214

Thursday, February 20, 1997

The Editor
The Times of India
Mumbai

S. B. Chavan’s TV interview in Rajiv Sharma’s ‘Ru ba ru’, is ignored by media for what it said, rather than as to why it said. The facts surrounding the Babri Masjid destruction are more important to the nation than a case of disloyalty by one of the Congress leaders. As it is Congress leaders are not looked upon as the paragon of ethical values; why should media begrudge squealing by a member of such a coterie of dubious credentials? Loyalty in ventures of corruption, mismanagement and public scandals, should to be deplored rather than to be idealized. Whatever may be Mr. Chavan’s constraints in not disclosing the shady going-ons in the highest echelons of our Government, his intended or unintended setting of the records, should be judged on its merits and such cathartic confessions should be publicly welcomed to encourage others to break the ranks and come over to the side of the people.

#213

12 February, 1997

The Editor
The Sunday Observer
Mumbai

Apropos your article ‘Stripping the Taj’ (Sunday Observer, Feb. 9). It is indeed shocking that a monument which ranks among the wonders of the world should be so sadly neglected in its own country. At a time when Government is inviting private enterprise for the maintenance of our monuments, the negligence on the part of ASI, and its active connivance in piecemeal destruction of the Taj Mahal is all the more deplorable. Are the authorities waiting to do a Babri Masjid on the Taj? This willful neglect must be stopped immediately, and the officers concerned punished severely, not only for the murder of a most beautiful expression of composite architecture and culture of India, but also for an affront to public feelings regarding a tribute to the noble sentiment of Love.

#210

12 February, 1997

The Editor
The Daily
Mumbai

Sir,

Apropos Mr. Prem Shankar Jha’s article: India’s democratic miracle (The Daily, 12/2). Whatever merits may be awarded to India’s quest for a democratic polity, the underachievement in economic field, did directly and adversely affect the true fulfillment of democratic and secular ideals.

The battle between vote and bread, has unnecessarily distorted our priorities. It is axiomatic that a plethora of problems that our democratic polity faces, would have been obliterated by the balm of better economic achievements. Nehru and Indira Gandhi’s ghettoization of India, for their own myopia against foreign domination and their arrogance of power (Indira is India), had feudal if not royalist overtones. Poor multitudes suffered and are still suffering. Let us all give a clear message to the present rulers to get on with the job of petty politicking and get down to the job of providing, at least, jhunka bhaker to India’s suffering millions, which may soon become a billion. (Is it not a shame that an octogenarian classical singer Sughra Bai is willing to trade her prestigious Padma Bhushan national award against two meals a day?) Mr. Prem Shankar Jha may be asked: what price glory?

#209

Tuesday, February 11, 1997

The Editor
The Free Press Journal
Mumbai

Apropos your editorial ‘Et Tu, Chavan?’ (FPJ, 10/2), it is surprising that, for you, the so-called treachery of S.B. Chavan to his leader, P. V. Narasimha Rao, was more reprehensible than the subversion of the whole apparatus of the law of land by the Government in power. On the one hand you deplore the sycophancy of the rank and file, while on the other side you expect that Chavan should have toed the line. As far as the people of India are concerned, they are not interested in the internal power wrangling of the Congress party, as much as in how the final governance of the country is delivered by the elected representatives. Any falling apart of the coterie which misruled the nation is a net gain for the people and it should be welcomed.


#207

Tuesday, February 11, 1997

The Editor
Pioneer
Delhi

Sir

Maulana Ahmed Kutty’s campaign to restore Muslim women’s rights to pray in Mosques, could exacerbate problems in urban areas, like Mumbai, where there is an unofficial and constitutionally untenable ban on new mosque constructions; though it must be acknowledged that unofficially there is some show of understanding to local necessity on a case to case basis. However, if the trend catches on for Muslim women’s’ insistence on praying in Mosques, there is bound to be a major flash point with the authorities and the political implication for all parties wooing Muslim votes will find one more bargaining ploy to entangle Muslim voter with one more emotive issue, and take the community away from concerns of economic upliftment, education and social harmony.

It is high time that the authorities should wake up to the realities of gender justice, and double the F.S.I. for mosques in order to enable women to participate in congregational prayers.


#205

Monday, February 10, 1997

Mani Shankar Aiyar’s article: ‘The Gujral Doctrine’ - goes to prove that he is one Congressman that has the vision and courage to rise above petty partisanship to think out purely for the benefit of the nation. Besides crossing the t’s and doting the i’s, Gujral Doctrine augurs a new era of constructive dialogue from a position of strength of conviction and in language of friendly firmness. Gujral’s magnanimity in corralling Basu and Karunanidhi in his Bangladesh and Sri Lanka initiatives stands in sharp contrasts to career politicians’ in-born urge to project his own importance to the detriment of national interests.

#204

9 February, 1997

The Editor
The Indian Express FAX:2852108
Mumbai PHONE:2022583

Sir,

Congressman Ghulam Nabi Azad and others should know better than to ask superfluous and diversionary questions as to why S. B. Chavan was silent all these years when he was a personal witness to Rao’s connivance in the destruction of Babri Mosque. The abysmal level of sycophancy that has eroded the very character of all Congressmen cannot produce any other scenario. Instead of asking for the resignation of Rao and Chavan, Ghulam Nabi Azad, himself should have resigned from the primary membership of Congress, if he was so upright. The failure of all state machinery, including the highest official entrusted to uphold the law of the land, to prevent the conspiracy to succeed, can not be left unaccounted. All criminals should be brought to justice, however, high and mighty they may be. Babri Masjid is an open sore and unless these wounds are healed, the country will not get peace; so essential to its rebuilding and development.

#203

9 February, 1997

The Editor
The Indian Express
Mumbai

Sir,

Tavleen Singh’s alarm bells on the danger of India falling off the map of the world ( IE, 9/2) should be taken very seriously by both the Government and the people of India. The 21st. Century will be the century of Information Technology. India missed the bus when industrial revolution was raging in the West. This time around we are masters of our own destiny and cannot blame others if we missed the opportunity to take our due place in the line up of the nations. At a practical level, Government should strive everything, short of making Bill Gates, Honorary President of India, to usher in the new age of Information. Eight hundred million people of India connected to world life-lines, will assuredly contribute to a better and more meaningful future for the humankind.

#202

30 January, 1997

The Editor
The Hindustan Times
18-20, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi - 110001

Sir,

‘Iftar’ is the most sublime and touching finale to a rigorous regimen of daily abstinence from food, water, carnal desires and a sun-up to sundown covenant with the Almighty. It is compulsory for the full month of Ramadan for the faithful. The Ramadan month further witnesses another solemn ritual for distribution of Zakat to the poor and needy; the month being the ending of the financial accounting period for accumulated wealth and its ‘cleansing’ by paying out 2.5% in cash and kind towards charity. Iftar has been hijacked by Delhi politicians for playing their own variation on the theme that borders on the profane. The daily feast laid out by political big wigs like Deve Gouda, Kesri, Paswan, Laloo Yadav and the attendance by the glittariti of all hues will shame a carnival. A Muslim Personal Law Board Secretary, Maulana Wali Rahmani, has gone on record severely condemning such demeaning of a sacred occasion, where grace and charity are supposed to give the aura of godliness.

Away from Delhi, in the bustling city of Cairo, a similar controversy rages over sumptuous Iftar fare provided daily on the streets for the poor and all passersby, roza or no roza, by a famous belly dancer, whose tainted earnings are not fit and halal for any faithful; so holds one cleric from Al Azhar, the centuries old University. Another benevolent soul from Egyptian Ulema, makes allowance in this respect for the poor people around whom the whole Ramadan piety is focused. In India too, Iftar is popular with all communities, though sadly it is degraded by political and elitist snobbery.

#201

30 December, 1996

The Editor
The Afternoon
Mumbai

Sir

Mr. Kripa Shankar Singh, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president, has come out and charged Shiv-Sena for fooling North- Indians. Coming from a party official whose party has been fooling not only North Indians but all Indians, and that too for the last fifty years; this is nothing but sheer audacity. The norms for serving the people too are all self-serving. If a few ministerial posts are given to a certain community, by a party, it does not automatically result in redress to that community’s interests. The ethos of party’s internal politics has been so institutionalized by Congress, that all such appointees are first to serve their own interests by recouping their huge illegal investments in funding the party. Only, then and then, they care for even party’s own private agenda. People’s interests come last, if at all. So the bench-mark in judging any Government’s redressal of any particular community’s genuine grievances is not the appointment of any minister or cabinet official, but the policies and implementation results that the Government produces or is capable of producing. The more the party is dependent on money-power to project itself, the more it is prone to encourage or allow its members to indulge in corruption. If Congress party which enjoyed people’s trust for over a hundred years has not sunk into a vicious circle of illegal money power to keep it afloat, it would not have lamented for the loss of North Indians or South Indians. For all practical purposes, Congress has lost its pioneering soul and all its present leaders are nothing but pall-bearers.

Tuesday, January 28, 1997

This refers to newspaper reports about Syed Shahabuddin calling on Centre to curb the Khilafat Campaign. In this age of satellite communication, when national boundaries are getting less and less of barriers for free flow of information, be it relating to entertainment, culture, religion, consumerism or political propaganda, world movements ---from Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Hindutva to America’s pop culture, the free world takes them all in its stride. Mr. Shahabuddin’s sudden public proclamation of fear of Islam has something to do with the loss of his Parliamentary seat. He can hold neither his successes nor his reverses. One is reminded of a couplet by Lucknow’s celebrated Urdu poet, Yaganah Changezi, who once paraded through the streets on a donkey, with his face blackened, said in self-reflection:

Khudi ka nashsha chadhha, aap mein raha na gaya
Khuda bane the Yaganah magar bana na gaya

Khilafat movement has no political or territorial overtones. It is essentially part and parcel of the body religion of Islam. Though, because of British Imperialist manipulations against which even Mahatma Gandhi joined Khilafat movement, and through Kamal Attaturk’s declaration of Republic, Khilafat was abolished, it does not stand revoked in Islam. Syed Shahabuddin’s strong reaction against SIMI goes to prove that he is prone to swings of extreme beliefs and therefore unsuitable for any credible role in the future of either his community or his country.


#199