archive: Pawar's 'offer' to Muslims in Maharashtra
Pawar's 'offer' to Muslims in Maharashtra
Special Correspondent
The Hindu
July 1, 1999
Title: Pawar's 'offer' to Muslims in Maharashtra
Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: The Hindu
Date: July 1, 1999
MUMBAI, JUNE 30. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president, Mr.
Sharad Pawar, has offered to get Muslim candidates elected to the Lok
Sabha from non-Muslim constituencies in Maharashtra.
Speaking to the community leaders here yesterday, Mr. Pawar implied
that in a city that was communally divided since the 1992-93 riots,
this would be a right way to bridge the gap between the Hindus and
Muslims.
He put forward two other arguments as well, which apparently has set
the Muslim community thinking: one, that there has been a declining
presence of the members of the minority community in the legislative
bodies; two, Maharashtra did not send a single candidate from their
ranks to the Lok Sabha in 1998.
Apparently, Mr. Pawar is enthused by the remarkable results in the
1998 elections, when an alliance between the Congress(I), the
Samajwadi Party and the Republican Party of India saw four neo-
Buddhist dalits - Mr. Ramdas Athavale, Mr. R. S. Gavai, Mr. Prakash
Ambedkar and Prof. Jongendra Kawade of RPI - were elected from non-SC
seats where Marathas dominate.
Seldom have politicians have placed their bets on getting Muslims from
a non-Muslim seat or a non-Muslim from a Muslim constituency, elected,
regardless of party affiliations and many have been saying that ``save
some honourable exceptions, it is virtually impossible.''
In fact, even the Samajwadi Party, despite its claims, has essentially
been a Muslim-based organisation and its strength is palpable only in
Muslim dominated areas. Party leaders have not hesitated to publicly
speak of their Muslim-ness and their electoral edge can be indexed to
the clout the community enjoys in the constituency.
Soon after his party's launch, Mr. Pawar has been focussing on the
minorities. His very first speech at a rally of Muslims saw him
promise action on Srikrishna Commission if he was endowed with
political power in the coming elections. To the minority audience in
Dharavi, a slum that was badly affected during the 1992-93 riots here
that statement was like music to the ears. The NCP chief has also made
other interesting assurances. At a dinner hosted for minority
community leaders by Mr. Chagan Bhujbal, he promised of a specifically
mandated financial institution to support the economic betterment of
the Muslims and emphasis on educating Muslims, especially girls, by
ensuring that hostels are built to house them when they come to towns
to study.
Back
Top
|
