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Mamata’s ‘token of gesture’ to Muslims is her political gain
Bijoy Menon
A few years ago Mulayam Singh Yadav was known as ‘Maulana Mulayam’ in Uttar Pradesh by BJP for his muslim-centric politics. BJP now terms Mamata as ‘Jihadi Didi ‹ for appeasement of muslims and CPI(M) has accused her of spoiling the atmosphere by communalising Bengal’s politics.
In the first quarter of 2016, West Bengal will go the assembly polls. Although Mamata and her party Trinamool Congress are confident the fruits of power once again, she is leaving no stone unturned to appease muslim community.
According to 2011 census, West Bengal after Assam has 27.01 percent muslim population. There are 9.2 crores of total population in West Bengal out of 6.4 crore Hindus (70.53 percent) and 2.4 crore Muslims (27.01.percent). There are three districts i.e. Mushirdabad, Malda and North Dinajpur where Muslims have surpassed Hindus. Mamata’s Trinamool Congress had spectacular victory scoring 34 seats out of 42 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha election, it failed to win in above three muslim dominated districts. Here Malda went in favour of Congress and Mushirdabad, Dinapur (North) went in favour of CPI (M).
Mamata’s recent address at the function of ‘Jamait-Ulema-e-Hind’ where she wore a hijab-esque head-wrap told the gathering hat she and her party are always at the disposal of Muslims and gave strongest signals to appease them keeping in view 2016 assembly election. She will be holding more meetings with muslims to nurse them before assembly poll.
Consider the case of Kazi Nazrul Islam, the legendary poet,philanthropist. He is one of the few bengali poets who have great admiration from all walks of life. He, being a muslim was of all praise for Goddess Kali and had written many revolutionary poems and songs with islamic themes. Recently at a gathering of muslim community organised by West Bengal Minorities Development Corporation, Mamata reminded the community that it was her government who took initiative to set up Nazrul Islamic Centre. She further added saying that her government had increased the stipend of thousand of Imam in mosques. Unfortunately, where unemployment is a burning issue and employment exchange in general hardly provide jobs, she had announced to set up ‘Minority Employment Exchange’. Her new vision for muslims is to introduce Urdu language, more Muslim Universities and Colleges, implementation of the recommendation of Sachar Committee, special budgetary provision to technical education to madrasas. Most of the Universities in West Bengal have no connection in urdu language. Nine out of ten muslims in Bengal are ethnic bengalis with bangla being their mother tongue. In additon all Muslim ministers in her Cabinet are bengali. Hence introducing Urdu language in schools and colleges are at political blunder.
To appease the muslims, her government had honored and felicitated high profile Urdu poet Mohammed Iqbal’s grands on Waleed Iqbal at International Literary Festival held at Kolkata. Mamata is the Chairman of West Bengal Urdu Academy.
Trinamool Congress has 184 law makers in 294 assemblies. It is certain that she will not go for any alliance with any other parties and therefore her eyes are glued to the 42 seats Congress had won in last assembly because of alliance with her. Congress has now many groups in party itself. Left Front Cadres are now rudderless and has switched over to her camp. BJP may increase its tally from 1 to 20. But they are far behind from the fruits of power. It is learnt that Mukul Roy, once her Man Friday is all set to float his own party and has submitted form for registration to the Election Commission for new name. Although there is no dearth of anti-incumbancy she has been facing, she looks less puzzled. What will be the asset for her for forthcoming assembly election that she dared to open classified files of Netaji for public which was in cold storage for many decades? She had won laurels from all sections of society for this historical decision. She had now learnt a lot of political chemistry from 34 years of misrule of Left Front government.
In 2011 assembly election, Congress with Mamata’s support did well in muslim dominated areas. . If Muslim votes in 2016 polls switch over to Mamata from Congress and Left, she will triumph over again with two third majority even otherwise her party’s victory is almost certain. Muslims have no choice but to vote for her party. They are politically awakening and will vote for enbloc for single party. Congress and Left cannot come together because of different ideology and to keep BJP out of power, Trinamool Congress is the best bet for muslims.
