New Dlehi, July 21: Contrary to perception being created that Muslims are opposed to the nuclear deal, Muslim political parties have come forward to save the UPA government. This is notwithstanding the fact that several of them are opposed to the largest constituents of the UPA, Congress party.
Reams have been written on why Muslims are against the Indo-US nuclear deal. This theory was first started by M K Padhe of the CPI-M and later picked by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kumari Mayawati. She invited some unknown maulanas to her residence and had a great photo ops with them. Later she claimed that Muslims were opposed to nuke deal.
Barring a few exceptions Muslims have said that they are not opposed to the deal and that
what is good for the country is good for the Indian Muslim community as well.
Maulana Ahmad Bukhari, the imam of Jama masjid Delhi, said very aptly, The deal could either be anti-India or pro-India and this is for the nuclear experts to decide. It cannot be pro or anti-Muslim. Here Maulana Bukhari was airing the true sentiments of Indian Muslims. A few Muslim organizations including Jamaat-e-Islami Hind have sided with the Left and have opposed the nuclear deal. But these are fringe organizations and dont have any or very little influence on Indian Muslim community.
On the other hand Muslim political parties with substantial fan followings among Muslims in their respective areas have come forward to support the deal and save Manmohan Singh government. All of them have some reservation on the nuclear deal, but despite these reservation and their anti-Congress stance in several cases they are supporting the UPA to save the country from falling in the hand of the BJP by one or the other of its proxies.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a partner of the UPA has announced to support the government on the nuclear deal. E Ahmed explained that party had some reservations, but nonetheless it was supporting the Manmohan Singh government on nuclear deal. The party has some anxieties over the nuclear deal, which will be conveyed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. At the same time, if the government seeks confidence vote, as a UPA partner, we will vote along with the Congress.
Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen(MIM) is a rival of the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh. But this has not stopped the regional outfit from supporting the government on nuclear deal. Asaduddin Owaise, the young MIM MP says, for us the deal is not the immediate concern. Our top priority is to stop the BJP and L K Advani from coming to power as they pose an immediate threat to the secular polity of the country and to the life, identity and development of Muslims.
He adds, while voting tomorrow my immediate concern will be how to stop L K Advani from becoming the prime minister of this great nation as he is an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition criminal case. On the nuclear deal we have already conveyed our reservations and concerns to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
He also makes clear the Muslim communitys stand on Indo-US nuke deal, there is no basis for saying that Indian Muslims are against this deal. It is an international agreement and by trying to give a communal colour some parties are indulging in cynical manipulation of Muslims for their own political ambitions and desires. M K Padhe of the CPI-M and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati are telling the people that Muslims are against it. I would like to question the CPI-M and Mayawati why don't you say that Hindus are for the deal, that Dalits are against it and whether the backwards were for or against the deal. Why do you have to put a gun on my shoulder and fire? Why do you have to put me in the spot? The MIM believes this is a canard being spread that will lead to more hatred towards the Muslims. This will give a handle to the Sangh Parviar and help them in the electoral process.
National Conference, a dominant Jammu and Kashmir political party is also voting for the UPA. It is a strong opponent to the Congress in the state but it will also vote for UPA government. Omar Abdullah, the party president made clear his partys stand saying, BJP can never be an option for us. We have to choose between the two evils and we would consider which one is the lesser evil. A senior party leader said.
