Lucknow: Three new Muslim faces in the cabinet, 25 percent reservation for Muslims in the state pension scheme, special vocational skills to Muslims youth in 45 districts, 20 percent reservation in all government schemes in districts having at least 25 percent minority population, a hike in honorarium paid to Madrasa teachers - the Samajwadi Party is going full blast wooing the Muslim community. If there's a hint of desperation in all this, it is understandable. There are signs post Muzaffarnagar riots that the community is moving away from party. The Congress is lying in wait to capture the vote bank. With Narendra Modi's popularity growing, nothing seems to be following the script for party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. PTI
The matter is serious for him indeed. If the Muslim community decides to turn its back on the Samajwadi Party, it would mean the end of his prime ministerial ambition. For those not in the know, the community accounts for 17 percent of the vote share in the state and if united, could impact results in as many as four dozen parliamentary constituencies, particularly those in the eastern and western Uttar Pradesh. Mulayam's reputation as the protector of Muslims has taken some beating over the last many months. With this his aim of securing at least 50 seats in the coming polls has suffered.
There have been many communal riots - the developments in Muzaffarnagar and the Akhilesh government's response to it being particularly worrisome. Worse, the threat perception in the community has been on the rise after Modi's arrival on the Uttar Pradesh political stage. The Congress has already announced four percent reservation the backward in the community. It had voted overwhelmingly for the Samajwadi Party in the assembly elections of 2012 to bring it back to power. That support looks suspect now. That explains the sense of urgency in the government to woo back the Muslims to its fold.
"Samajwadi Party has always used Muslims as vote bank and is continuing to do so. The party keeps clergies and Ulmas satisfied so that they speak in party's favour. These clergies and Ulmas, in return, create a phobia of BJP in the Muslim mind," says advocate Rizwan Ahmed, who wonders why Mulayam remained so complacent when riot after riot were taking place in the state. This sentiment echoes among the common Muslim voters fed up with tokenism resorted to by parties such as Samajwadi Party. They are more interested in issues like development, education, electricity and jobs. They are not too impressed by senior minister Azam Khan's appeal to come together to fight communal forces – read the Congress and the BJP.
Rihai Manch, the outfit spearheading a movement which seeks release of Muslim youth arrested on false charges by the previous government, shares the mood. "Muslims are unhappy with Mulayam. We are rather angry with the party as it has failed to keep its promise to free Muslim boys who arrested under terrorism charges," says Manch's president and advocate Mohammed Shoaib.
However, the community is in a bind when it comes to electoral choice. Despite its disenchantment with Mulayam, many don't feel they can vote for any other party. Political analyst Zaheer Mustafa says, "Muslims have never deserted Mulayam since the Babri mosque demolition. For us, voting for Mulayam is the same as the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) voting for BJP." All India Shia Personal Law Board spokesperson MM Yasoob Abbas says, "Muslims have faith in the SP and big hopes from the party. We do not feel the schemes they are introducing are to appease us. The party is only fulfilling its promises."
The views within the community might be divided but it allows Mulayam and his party no comfort. The spate of recent announcements only highlights their insecurity.
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