By Mumtaz Alam, Muslim Mirror,
New Delhi, June 27: There is indeed leadership vacuum in the Muslim community in India. It doesn’t mean there aren’t leaders, says Dr. Shakeel Samdani, a renowned orator and Professor of Law at Aligarh Muslim University, in an interview with Muslim Mirror. To substantiate his point, he cites various issues confronting the community for over decades but Muslim leaders have failed to impress upon the government to resolve those issues.
“There are several Muslim Members of Parliament – both in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. There are Muslim ministers and even governors. There are Muslim Members of legislative assemblies and legislative councils. There are districts presidents, spokespersons of political parties. But these are leaders of their parties only. They speak on Muslim issues only when their parties order. Otherwise, generally on Muslim issues social workers and concerned citizens speak. These leaders keep silent. They seek support of Muslim masses at the time of election and win but after the election and victory, they generally do not raise the issues of Muslim community,” says Dr. Samdani, who is also Member of the Executive Council of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
“The big example of leadership vacuum is the continued injustice with Mumbai riot victims even after 20 years. In 1992, after the demolition of Babri Masjid, there broke out large scale communal riots during which police targeted Muslims. Following the riots, condemnable serial blasts took place in the city. While the accused of blasts have been prosecuted and some of them have been awarded death sentence, but neither culprits of Babri demolition, nor rioters nor guilty policemen have even been charge sheeted despite recommendations of Justice Sri Krishna Commission. If we had leadership they would have told the government that when you have awarded punishment on ‘reaction’ (blasts) why you have not taken action on the ‘action’ (demolition, riot, police killings),” he says.
“Take the recent case of custodial killing of Khalid Mujahid. Muslim leaders of all political parties are so silent on this killing as if their mouths have been freezed.”
“Similarly, the government prepared Sachar Committer report, but except scholarships nothing substantial has been done to uplift the minority community. The ruling party Congress, however, claims all recommendations of the committee have been implemented.”
“One of the major recommendations is reservation. The government has done nothing to provide reservation for Muslims. Reservation is the best solution to the backwardness of Muslims in the field of education and job,” says Dr. Samdani, president Sir Syed Awareness Forum, a civil initiative on education.
“I think Muslim leadership has completely failed to highlight the issues of the community,” he says.