Politics, Muslims and Bihar Elections
Mufti Abdul Qadir Khalid Sahib
The first phase of the Bihar elections campaign has ended with politicians' promises and fierce verbal attacks on each other. However, this time, politics regarding the Bihar general elections had started long ago not only in Bihar but throughout the country, and as the election time approached, it intensified to the point that for the past few days, in streets, squares, media (electronic or print), or social media, everywhere there is only talk about it. Everyone is worried about who will take over the government of Bihar, especially a large section of Muslims are anxious that the NDA alliance should not succeed again.
> Whether you call it the political misfortune of the Muslims of the country or the lack of political awareness, for a long time, elections have only been a means of keeping the BJP out of power, while in democratic politics, elections are the best way to improve the future of nations and achieve the milestones of development. But for many elections, whether it is the general elections of the country or the elections of the states or any small election like Panchayat or Municipal Corporation, the emphasis has been on keeping the BJP out of power. As a result, the so-called secular parties have also exploited the Muslims well. Many families and political parties, including Muslim politicians, have brightened their politics with the help of Muslims, from state ministries to central ministries, even achieving the positions of Chief Minister and Prime Minister, accumulating wealth and then distancing themselves from the Muslims. There are countless examples of this in the political history of independent India.
But despite this, Muslims have never collectively considered changing their strategy or adopting a new strategy. However, after the BJP came to power and the promotion of Hindutva ideology in the country, a new political ideology has taken root in Muslim society, especially among the youth, that *"Muslims should vote for their political center instead of the failure of the BJP."* In the current general elections in Bihar, this ideology is dominating, and the vigorous election campaign of Majlis has made it a subject of constant debate, and because of this, the market of accusations and criticisms is hot among Muslim politicians, religious leaders and ordinary Muslims who are in favor and against these two different political strategies.
> While both these ideologies, without a proper and serious strategy, are not going to give Muslims a special place in the country's politics, because Muslims have been adopting the strategy of "keeping the BJP out of power" for many years and Muslims have seen the results that despite this strategy, the BJP has been in power at the center and in many states for ten years. Yes, it is not that this strategy of Muslims has always failed, but many times the BJP has also been deprived of power, but Muslims have never achieved the real benefits of politics.
> As for its political leadership or center of politics, Muslims have already had a bitter experience of it before independence, but it also does not mean that this ideology is wrong.
*Where is the mistake happening?*
The mistake is happening in the very foundation of Muslims in the politics of the country that the things that Muslims use as a basis for deciding political strategy are against the basic principles of the current politics and democratic system, because the foundation of Muslims' political strategy has often been in the past and still is only on religious issues and religious slogans. Through politics, Muslims have given very little thought to solving other fields such as economic, educational, social and regional issues, *A major reason for this is that the political leaders of Muslims in the country have been purely religious leaders from the beginning, who have neither practical politics nor any special experience in solving social and basic problems at the field level, therefore, they themselves and the common Muslims have made up their minds that in politics, politicians will only talk about religious issues or any religious ceremony, there can be no greater political mistake than this in a democratic system, especially for religious minorities.*
Without correcting this mistake, it will be useless for Muslims to adopt any political strategy.
*It is not wrong for religious leaders to lead in politics, but the political leader should be one who is familiar with the principles and rules of politics and has field experience in practical politics and social services, only then can the nation be properly guided.*
> And in a democratic system, the basis of minority politics should be basic issues, not religious issues, because the democratic system is based on the majority, then there is no doubt that religious politics will only benefit the religious majority, which we are also seeing.
If religious minorities make basic issues the subject of their politics, then the direction of the country's politics will be towards curbing prejudice and sectarianism to a great extent and the religious majority will not get a chance to unite.
*(2)* The second big mistake of Muslims is that Muslims have never shown seriousness in politics in the history of independent India, political activity is only seen among Muslims on the occasions of elections, after that this series stops, while the real benefit of politics in a democratic system is achieved only after the elections, but negligence and non-seriousness have always been seen from the side of Muslims, *Before the elections, the leaders of Muslims show a lot of strength in supporting someone and opposing someone, but when their supported party gets power, instead of getting their demands fulfilled and putting pressure on them through various political and democratic means, they distance themselves from politics for five years.*
This is a mistake that has deprived Muslims of the real benefits of elections and politics. Political parties and politicians have taken full advantage of it, but instead of benefiting from it, Muslims have often only suffered losses.
*In order to assert their position in the country's politics, it is necessary for Muslims to correct this mistake before adopting any strategy, and at the same time, it is necessary for a class to be permanent among Muslims who, on the basis of pure political taste, practical politics, social services, the subtleties of the situation and familiarity with the law, should draw the attention of governments and political parties to the problems of Muslims from time to time in different democratic ways instead of just elections.*
> *(3) Muslims have also made a mistake in understanding the mood of the country's politics that in an era when politics has become a means of acquiring capital and religion has become its advertisement, Muslims have considered everyone who adopts a religious slogan and religious symbol as their benefactor.*
This mistake has made Muslims not only politically but also psychologically so emotional that Muslims have become blind, deaf and dumb in the devotion of politicians who raise religious slogans and adopt religious symbols, they have started presenting every evil of theirs as good, due to which the fear of defeat from the hearts of politicians, which is necessary for the survival of the democratic system, has ended.
*(4)* Another mistake of Muslims is the lack of political awareness and not paying attention to it, the lack of political awareness in Muslim society has deprived Muslims of the difference between the style of thinking of politics and religion, the devotion that should be for religion, the same devotion has come in Muslims in relation to politics and politicians, as a result, Muslims have been deprived of the courage to question, which is an important means of keeping politicians in control in the democratic system, and this deprivation has made politicians bold to do as they please, *Common Muslims should have at least so much political awareness that they consider it their democratic right to question political representatives and the leaders who support them.*
These are a few mistakes, without correcting which the permanent end of political deprivation of Muslims in the country is not possible.
As far as the existing political ideologies found in Muslims are concerned, if both these ideologies are adopted in the light of democratic and political principles along with correcting the above-mentioned mistakes, then it is hoped that the political helplessness of Muslims will be reduced.
*(1) Keeping the BJP out of power*
This strategy has become a compulsion for Muslims due to the circumstances, but it should be taken care that in the effort to defeat the BJP, our shareholding and political status should not be at stake, therefore, whoever is supported, should also demand from them their political survival that we need Muslim candidates in such and such areas, Muslims should be given high positions in the party itself, all this is possible only when our political preparations are not only for the time of elections.
*(2) Muslims having their own political leadership and center of politics...*
This is a basic and important need in the politics of Indian Muslims, but there are many subtleties in it, without taking care of which it will be harmful for Muslims instead of being beneficial.
> (1) The political leadership of Muslims should be collective, not individual, family and hereditary. (2) It should be ideological, not emotional and capitalist thinking. (3) It should be of those who have political taste, are aware of the realities of the democratic system, the institutions of the country and political principles and rules, and are sympathetic to the nation, not of those who trade in the name of politics.
*Appropriate strategy for Bihar elections*
Since Muslims are facing this general election of Bihar as always without any planned preparation, therefore, once again the electoral purpose of Muslims is somehow to keep the BJP alliance out of power, in such a situation, Muslims should first of all keep in mind that somehow the Muslim representation should increase, therefore, wherever any party has given ticket to a Muslim candidate, he should be made successful there, if there are two Muslim candidates somewhere, then the Muslim candidate of the political party that Muslims like to see in power should be made successful, no matter what he is like, so that in the event of the formation of the government, political parties can be forced to include more Muslims in the government, as for the Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, since it is a party with Muslim leadership, but at the same time it has family supremacy and capitalist thinking, therefore, its being powerful in Muslim society will promote dictatorship, therefore, it can be made successful on some seats to teach a lesson to other parties, but it should not be given much importance.
This strategy should only be based on the current situation, otherwise, Muslims facing elections in the same way in the future without any permanent preparation will also end the remaining political status of Muslims