Forget Bukhari...Majority of Indian Muslims seems to support the movement
With few reservations, Muslims support Anna Hazares fast for Jan Lokpal
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Only saying that Indian Muslims support Anna Hazares crusade for Jan Lokpal or they dont favor the anti-corruption movement because of its alleged RSS links, would be, not only being unfair to Muslims, it would also be ignoring the fact that Annas indefinite fast demanding from the government, to pass only his Jan Lokpal Bill, has divided the community at several levels and has provoked a heated debate in the Muslim civil society.
Interestingly that debate among Muslims over Annas struggle is characterized by strong and diverse opinions, devoid of any consensus, probably representing a community which is as diverse as India.
Those who disagree with Anna Hazare and his ways to conduct the protest against anti-corruption, say that there are serious questions to be answered by the leaders of this movement, regarding the implications of his struggle for Jan Lokpal on the larger issues of parliamentary democracy and democratic rights.
Talking about the support to Annas cause of anti-corruption in the Muslim community, one may not be sure about Muslims in the rural India or those from lower classes; but overall, it wont be wrong to say, that a large section of techno-savvy Muslim middle class, supports the cause of anti-corruption led by Anna Hazare.
Come to Batla House Chowk, a locality in Muslim dominated suburb of the Indian capital city of Delhi, which ironically reminds one of the fake encounter of two Muslim boys by the Delhi police and you will find bill boards in support of Anna Hazares campaign all over. Interestingly its not the sensitive idea of Vande Mataram, which could have created a controversy in the community, but Jai Hind which is written on those bill boards.
Nusrat Hussain, a law researcher in Delhi High Court, thinks that the entire country, including Indian Muslims need to support Anna, precisely because corruption is some thing which affects all, irrespective of class or caste. She also argues that questioning the legitimacy of this anti-corruption crusade just because its a middle class movement and it doesnt fit into the prototype of working class led proletariat revolution, is wrong.
Name me a one single working class movement in India, which had the sway like this one and which influenced the Union government of that time, in the way Anna led this movement against corruption did, asks Hussian.
Taking this love of Muslim middle class for Annas cause, in account, several organizations like, Jamat-e-Islami Hind and the Welfare Party of India, have also extended their support with certain reservations, to Annas movement for Jan Lokpal.
Symbolism to attract Muslims
This time Team Anna has understood the importance of symbolism in attracting the Muslim community towards his movement as compared to his last fast which had attracted criticism for its invitation of Hindutva activists like Sadhwi Ritambhara.
There has been a perception that Muslims have been left out from Annas crusade or the struggle for the Jan Lokpal, doesnt have the vital support of the Muslim community- an accusation which the Congress has repeatedly been highlighting in the media to discredit the popular anti-corruption movement.
In order to counter the allegations of Muslim hostility, team Anna has taken a series of steps. On Saturday in a very important symbolic gesture, a mass Iftaar (the ritual of breaking of fast) was organized, which also highlighted the fact that Muslims are joining the campaign.
The Iftaar was also an attempt to draw a parallel between the fast for moral purification as practiced by Muslims during the ongoing month of Ramzan and the indefinite fast by Anna which is being portrayed as an attempt to purge the corruption out of the country.
In another symbolic step, every day you will find one or more Muslim representatives, in some cases with skull cap, on stage, extending their solidarity and appealing from their fellow Muslims to join the movement.
But its not to say that there are no opponents of Anna. A section of the Muslim civil society thinks that Hindu Right wing groups like RSS and its cadre base, are the back bone of Annas movement as the Hindutva volunteers are providing the manpower back up to Hazares campaign for the Jan Lokpal.
Disturbed at RSS links
Faisal Khan, a prominent member of the National Alliance for Peoples Movement (NAPM) says that, it would be extremely dangerous for the future of the country if through Anna Hazare and his team-mates, the fascist forces like RSS, get to hold the country to ransom. Soon similar tactics would be used to campaign for Hindutva causes, Khan writes, in a letter to PM Manmohan Singh, expressing his fear about the RSS backed Anna movement.
A section of the community, which sees Saffron volunteers at Ramleela ground attending Annas protest rally in huge numbers, is uncomfortable with Anna because of his reported RSS links and his past praise for Narendra Modi for his developmental works in Gujarat. In expressing their sense of unease with Anna, they also betray their existential hostility, for apparently expected reasons, towards RSS and the BJP.
Few Muslim civil society representatives understand the power of Anna phenomenon and its potential to get the Congress led UPA government, bow down before its demands, which is what disturbs them the most. Opportunistic elements are trying to ride to power on an Anna wave like they did on the Jaya Prakash Narayan bandwagon in 1977, as Manzoor Alam, secretary general of Milli Council writes in an article titled, Anarchy is not the option.
Needs Muslim Participation
As opposed to Dr. Alam, there is a section of Muslim intelligentsia, which wants more and more participation from the Muslim community because it thinks that active Muslim participation will deter any attempt by the fascists to sabotage the movement along with the secular activists
Shahidur Rashid Talukdar, a research scholar at Texas Tech University, USA, says that it is through involvement with such processes, which concern the interest of the entire nation, Indian Muslim can integrate with the country. Otherwise, Muslims can never get rid of the Left Out syndrome and their mainstreaming will remain a mere dream. When India stands, Muslims should wake up and join the chorus, else Muslims will have to continue being on the margin of the Indian society.
Muslims may join Anna or they may disagree with him, as many in the civil society in the country do, but the best thing happening this time around is, that there is a healthy debate going on this issue. One just hopes that the better sense prevails.
