02-08-2007, 06:26 AM
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=3
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>'SEZ, globalisation anti-Muslim'</b>
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
30 Muslim outfits slam Govt policies
While the UPA Government is trying to project the Sachar Committee recommendations on the Muslims as the only solution to the problems faced by the community, the minority outfits representing dalit and backward Muslims have risen against economic policies of the Government, branding them as anti-Muslim.
This is the first time that organisations representing Dalit and backward Muslims that account for 85 per cent of the community are raising their voice against economic policies of the Government.
Almost 30 of these Muslim organisations plan to protest before Parliament next week against the setting up of Special Economic Zones and the policy of liberalising the retail sector and import of readymade goods.
"These Muslims are the most affected by the liberal economic policies of the Government, as most of them are artisans, small traders and retailers," Ali Anwar, Coordinator of the Pasmanda Mahapanchayat, an umbrella organisation of the Dalit and Muslim organisations, told media persons on Wednesday.
"SEZ and multinational companies are hurting us in a big way. The weavers of Benaras who were pioneer in making clothes, are languishing. They are forced to sell their children," he said. He wondered what would the tailors do if the Government opens the doors of readymade clothes from outside.
The Muslims have already played a leading role in struggles against acquisition of farmland in Singur and Nandrigram by the Left Front-ruled West Bengal.
Anwar claimed that 80-85 per cent of the Muslims in the country are Pasmanda (OBC or dalit) and asserted that characterisation of all Muslims as backwards was unjustified.
"The multinationals in retail and the corporate in car servicing and the import of finished goods will affect the weavers, tailors and mechanics, most of whom are Muslims," said Hazi Anwar Quereshi, national president of Rashtriya Jamietul Quresh Hind.
A protest demonstration by these Muslim organisations, who represent Muslim castes like halkhors, washermen, potters, weavers, tailors, barbers, meat sellers, is slated for February 10.
It is a comparatively new phenomenon in the Muslim politics as these organisations are not raising emotive issues that are being traditionally raised by big names in the mainstream Muslim politics.
"There are 1,050 Muslim elected members in Assemblies and 50 in Parliament, but they are engaged in raising trivial issues. None of them raise any economic issue facing the community," Anwar added.
"They are the elites of the community and it is a wrong perception that Muslims are a monolithic and homogeneous community," Anwar, a Rajya Sabha member associated with Janata Dal (U) said.
The leaders addressing the media also demanded that reservation should be given to Pasmanda Muslims in minority institutions and there should be a quota within quota for dalit Muslims.
"At the Central level, the OBC group should be divided into two groups-- the OBC and the extremely OBC -- so that Muslim OBCs can compete with equals," Asraf Ansari, National Convenor of Akhil Bharitya Uthan Sangh said.
While attacking the Muslim elite, Hafiz Ahmad Hawari said, "We refrain from emotive issues, because our bread and butter is at stake due to the change in economic policies.
Observers feel that the new phenomenon in Muslim politics is similar to the rise of dalit and OBC politics among the Hindus of the country during the post-independence era.
"After independence, most of the Muslims who remained in India were artisans and small traders and their concerns have never been addressed by established Muslim leaders," said an observer. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>'SEZ, globalisation anti-Muslim'</b>
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
30 Muslim outfits slam Govt policies
While the UPA Government is trying to project the Sachar Committee recommendations on the Muslims as the only solution to the problems faced by the community, the minority outfits representing dalit and backward Muslims have risen against economic policies of the Government, branding them as anti-Muslim.
This is the first time that organisations representing Dalit and backward Muslims that account for 85 per cent of the community are raising their voice against economic policies of the Government.
Almost 30 of these Muslim organisations plan to protest before Parliament next week against the setting up of Special Economic Zones and the policy of liberalising the retail sector and import of readymade goods.
"These Muslims are the most affected by the liberal economic policies of the Government, as most of them are artisans, small traders and retailers," Ali Anwar, Coordinator of the Pasmanda Mahapanchayat, an umbrella organisation of the Dalit and Muslim organisations, told media persons on Wednesday.
"SEZ and multinational companies are hurting us in a big way. The weavers of Benaras who were pioneer in making clothes, are languishing. They are forced to sell their children," he said. He wondered what would the tailors do if the Government opens the doors of readymade clothes from outside.
The Muslims have already played a leading role in struggles against acquisition of farmland in Singur and Nandrigram by the Left Front-ruled West Bengal.
Anwar claimed that 80-85 per cent of the Muslims in the country are Pasmanda (OBC or dalit) and asserted that characterisation of all Muslims as backwards was unjustified.
"The multinationals in retail and the corporate in car servicing and the import of finished goods will affect the weavers, tailors and mechanics, most of whom are Muslims," said Hazi Anwar Quereshi, national president of Rashtriya Jamietul Quresh Hind.
A protest demonstration by these Muslim organisations, who represent Muslim castes like halkhors, washermen, potters, weavers, tailors, barbers, meat sellers, is slated for February 10.
It is a comparatively new phenomenon in the Muslim politics as these organisations are not raising emotive issues that are being traditionally raised by big names in the mainstream Muslim politics.
"There are 1,050 Muslim elected members in Assemblies and 50 in Parliament, but they are engaged in raising trivial issues. None of them raise any economic issue facing the community," Anwar added.
"They are the elites of the community and it is a wrong perception that Muslims are a monolithic and homogeneous community," Anwar, a Rajya Sabha member associated with Janata Dal (U) said.
The leaders addressing the media also demanded that reservation should be given to Pasmanda Muslims in minority institutions and there should be a quota within quota for dalit Muslims.
"At the Central level, the OBC group should be divided into two groups-- the OBC and the extremely OBC -- so that Muslim OBCs can compete with equals," Asraf Ansari, National Convenor of Akhil Bharitya Uthan Sangh said.
While attacking the Muslim elite, Hafiz Ahmad Hawari said, "We refrain from emotive issues, because our bread and butter is at stake due to the change in economic policies.
Observers feel that the new phenomenon in Muslim politics is similar to the rise of dalit and OBC politics among the Hindus of the country during the post-independence era.
"After independence, most of the Muslims who remained in India were artisans and small traders and their concerns have never been addressed by established Muslim leaders," said an observer. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->