By S M Anwar Hussain
The other day when I said let Mr Asaduddin Owaisi put himself under the supervision of Popular Front of India (PFI), I was not making fun. I was serious about it. Mr Owaisi is a refined parliamentarian, but he is not a good strategist. He is a good public speaker and is well versed with laws, yet he doesn’t know how to protect himself or the community from the onslaught of law. He is outspoken against RSS and BJP, but he doesn’t know he has been unwittingly helping the two in polarising Hindus against Muslims. He throws challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah more often, but rarely did he succeed in foiling their nefarious game plans.
In a democratic setup, a leader should be pragmatic. There is no internal democracy in his party AIMIM (All India Muslim Ittehadul Muslimeen ) but he passionately tries to make it a pan-India party.
Ever since the Narendra Modi assumed power at the Centre, Muslims were let down on several issues including triple talaq, abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, draconian tweak in the UAPA and finally the Supreme Court verdict on Babri Masjid. Owaisi failed to lay any impact in any of the contentious issues.
Raise a think tank
There are just two brains, he and his younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi. I suggest him to raise a think tank which will guide him. The think tank will plan his activities and suggest ways to maintain equilibrium in his approach towards the plural society. It will advise him how to go ahead in concerted manner to counter the right wing forces without hurting the majoritarian section.
He is no doubt most educated and articulate Muslim leader, but he is more focused on his historical antagonism with Congress than devising a strategy to contain the biggest monster of the time, the Hindutva forces.
Why PFI
Where to find a think tank or raise such a body. I sincerely believe that Kerala-based Popular Front of India (PFI) will prove to be a suitable umbrella body for the purpose. Mr Owaisi could be its Parliamentary board leader as well as its leader in the Parliament. The PFI should give him due and respectable place and present him as the most important voice of not only Muslims, but of all other marginalised communities. Together they can bring political awareness among the marginalized communities in India and prepare a ground for launching a strong and sustained public struggle for proportional representation in the polity including legislature, executive and judiciary.
Political move like this will definitely ensure that a verdict like the present one in Babri Masjid case is not repeated.
I have closely observed its organisational strength, its strategy of networking, its approach of slowly but consistently moving towards the goal, and its ability to discipline its cadres. All over India, there are hundreds of Muslim political and social outfits, but only PFI made a protest march against the SC verdict on Ayodhya.
The PFI has internal democracy. Their leadership or office bearers keep on rotating. There is no hunger for publicity. They follow two-pronged strategy – approach individuals silently and address masses loudly. They are not in a hurry to reach in assembly or in Parliament. They understand the value of mass mobilization and slowly but steadily want to achieve the electoral goal.
United we stand
The PFI too has political structure, but it has set out its priorities smartly. The organization is not satisfied with the performance of secular parties, including the Congress, but it understands that the real enemy at the moment is the Hindutva forces.
So just to satisfy political whims, they never appear to be helping BJP. They have the vision and planning to make Muslims a strong political force. While I never endorsed the idea of separate Muslim political party, but after the Supreme Court judgement, it is now incumbent upon us to work for the political revival of the community, to create a political umbrella and start the struggle for proportional representation.
Only forming a political party and trying to win some more seats in parliament and assemblies are not going to help us. Fourteen percent minority cannot defeat 80 per cent majority in electoral battle. Before going to the electoral battle we need to mobilise masses with issues that can hit not only the imagination of Muslims, but other marginalised community too. I believe, deprivation lies in a long and sustained battle for proportional representation. And I am also certain once Muslims take lead on this issue, many more social groups will join hands with them.
Every struggle seeks for sacrifices and patience in adverse situation. If Muslims have some iota of life and valour left in them, they should get ready to move stand behind the leadership of Owaisi, but under PFI banner. The PFI has its own political front, Social Democratic party of India (SDPI). MIM and SDPI can be merged to make a new outfit and all other small Muslim political parties can be brought on board.
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The author is ex-president of AMUSU. He can be reached at Email : smanwarhussain2009@gmail.com. Views are personal.
Excellent write-up.
The wonderfully written article. You have done your best to bridge the gap between the top Muslim leaderships which will help to bring Muslims under one big umbrella. We should not forget that BJP has grown with the help of a well-organized think tank..
Do ever Mr Owasi has asked for feedback or mashwara from Muslims of India?
Any plan of how do we bring them together
Fantastic Analysis brother…. Excellent Suggestion..,..it shd done fast and soon,….👍👍👍
Really apreciated.nice article
Excellent message for Mr.Owaisi. this needs to be officially discussed and taken forward.
i presumed that honest, transparent, accountable and responsive governance , through non-corrupt political leaders, non-communal political leaders is the aim of PFI. but alas…
Really a good message
PFI is the only organization they never compromise with RSS
S. M. Anwar Husain sb. deserves a big applause to bring forth the facts about this Kerala-based Popular Front of India (PFI) to many who were not fully aware about its set up, organizational strenght, networking and the objectives it is working for with consistency. After going through his write-up, I believe that the Muslims in particular and people belonging to marginalized sections of society in general must be feeling very happy and satisfied to see the PFI as a ray of hope which is available to them as a platform where from the voices can be raised if there is any injustice done to them. His analysis and understanding about PFI and Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi are very deep and observations based. The PFI in recent times has taken community’s responsibility and displayed guts to come out on streets whether it was the issue of Triple Talaq, NRC or Babri Masjid SC verdict. At the same time I must say that Anwar Husain sb also has shown the courage to tell the truth about Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi and his party but then we should ensure that it reaches to him so that he does an honest introspection and necessary corrections. No doubt Owaisi sb is an educated and intelligent person and many a times he has shown genuine concern in the interest of community but as rightly said there is something which is lacking at his end and as a result he has not been able to effectively counter the Hindutva forces and their nefarious game plans. But I’m sure with the time, wisdom will prevail and together with other social and Muslim groups, Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi will join hands and he becomes their voice under the umbrella of Popular Front of India, ensuring that Babri masjid like SC verdict is not repeated. Regards
instead of forming organization for political scoring, work hard to solve the problem. Don’t act like a victimized mind-set. this is 21st century, not a 2nd century. the world is heading towards 4th industrial revolution but some of you are heading towards prehistoric era. Don’t leave in past, change yourself otherwise your future will not forgive what you did. khuda hafiz.