Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam
Singh Yadav's renewed efforts to win back Muslims by snapping
ties with former BJP leader Kalyan Singh have so far failed to
cut much ice with the community.
Though a recent party function to fecilitate its
Maharashtra MLA Abu Asim Azmi concentrated on ways and means
to win over the community by resorting to Kalyan Singh and
Congress bashing, Muslim leaders feel that parting ways with
the former BJP stalwart is guided by political compulsion
rather than any serious concern for the community.
Niab Imam of Idgah and member of All India Muslim
Personal Law Board, Khalid Rashees Firangimahli told a news agency that
SP has shown the door to Kalyan Singh due to the huge losses
suffered by the party recently at the hustings.
When Yadav raised matters related to the community
including the Babri Mosque, Muslims had backed him but the
recent drubbing in the by-elections have proved that he has
lost the trust of the community, Muslim leaders feel.
The SP leader would have to work very hard to explain
his viewpoint at the grassroot level, Firangimahli said,
adding Muslims were today minutely observing all political
parties to see what they have done for them to decide their
course for the 2012 assembly elections
The presdient of All India Sunni Board, Maulana
Mushtaq said that while it was good that SP has parted ways
with Kalyan Singh, it was not enough to win over the community
which had stayed loyal to it for long and had been responsible
for its success.
"Muslims have realised that their parting ways have
jolted the SP whose political fortunes have nosedived,"
Mushtaq said, pointing that several leaders were humiliated
and shown the door with the arrival of Kalyan Singh like Azam
Khan and Shafiqur Rehman Burq and they should also be brought
back in the party.
President of the All India Muslim Women Law Board,
Shaista Amber asked how the community, which could not pardon
the Congress for long for its role in the Babri masjid
demolition, accept Kalyan Singh or the party which had
extended a hand of friendship to him.
"Going all out to woo Muslims by raising sensitive
issues like Ayodhya dispute, Librehan and Sri Krishna
commission report show the political isolation being faced by
SP and is in no way indicative of its love for the community",
Amber said.
Airing similar views, President of All India United
Muslim Morcha, MA Siddiqui said Yadav's move would be of no
help as he has been left "totally exposed" first through
joining hands with Kalyan Singh and then driving him away when
the electoral results were not in keeping with his
expectations.
"The community has long been befooled on sensitive
issues but they have now realised that politicians have no
concern for their development and welfare and have started
looking into their designs", Siddiqui said.
Siddiqui said Muslims have understood the importance
of their vote and would decide on whom to back after weighing
all options and minutely considering their contribution for
the welfare of the community.
Both Firangimahli and Siddiqui said reservation for
Muslims was the main agenda before the community and the
party showing seriousness on this count would be better
placed.
"The community might feel titled towards the party
which promises to bring reservation in the state for Muslims
on the lines of what has been given in Andhra Pradesh and
Kerala ", Firangimahli added.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 11:20