05-31-2005, 07:53 PM
<b>The Arif line</b>
<i>Muslims must exercise the power in their hands, not give it up to brokers</i>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The second example concerns the demand by clerics under the umbrella of the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind (JuH) of proportional representation of Muslims in legislatures.<b> The demand made by the JuH in a rally in Delhiâs Ram Lila Grounds yesterday acquired salience because it was attended by the Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi. Since Sonia Gandhi will not understand the full implication of this demand, which no national party can accept, presumably her stalwart advisors will nudge her away from a commitment, which would be suicidal</b>.
Nor is the JuH like SIMI, and its president, Maulana Syed Asad Madani, is a stout nationalist. But remains the fact that the mullahs are losing political control over their community, and these are devises to control them. Now, they act as powerbrokers. With proportional representation, direct power will flow to them, and their control of the community would be total. The integration of the community nationally will cease, and their mainstreamisation will come to a halt. Proportional representation is the worst form of communal politics.
The Muslim community has played no role in this destructive power game, and if anything, it has suffered in consequence. Votebank politics instead of making it forward and prosperous has kept it backward and penurious, and the direct consequence of votebank politics, Hindutva, has further worsened it for the Muslims. The only way ahead for common Muslims is to integrate fiercely, assimilate, and to alone trust their judgment, and the judgement of other local communities during decisive voting. Power lies in their hands, and they must exercise it. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<i>Muslims must exercise the power in their hands, not give it up to brokers</i>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The second example concerns the demand by clerics under the umbrella of the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind (JuH) of proportional representation of Muslims in legislatures.<b> The demand made by the JuH in a rally in Delhiâs Ram Lila Grounds yesterday acquired salience because it was attended by the Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi. Since Sonia Gandhi will not understand the full implication of this demand, which no national party can accept, presumably her stalwart advisors will nudge her away from a commitment, which would be suicidal</b>.
Nor is the JuH like SIMI, and its president, Maulana Syed Asad Madani, is a stout nationalist. But remains the fact that the mullahs are losing political control over their community, and these are devises to control them. Now, they act as powerbrokers. With proportional representation, direct power will flow to them, and their control of the community would be total. The integration of the community nationally will cease, and their mainstreamisation will come to a halt. Proportional representation is the worst form of communal politics.
The Muslim community has played no role in this destructive power game, and if anything, it has suffered in consequence. Votebank politics instead of making it forward and prosperous has kept it backward and penurious, and the direct consequence of votebank politics, Hindutva, has further worsened it for the Muslims. The only way ahead for common Muslims is to integrate fiercely, assimilate, and to alone trust their judgment, and the judgement of other local communities during decisive voting. Power lies in their hands, and they must exercise it. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->