Many Muslims in Delhi are very happy with the arrival of Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the political scene. But Muslims, who always had a representation in the Sheila Dikshit cabinet, are disappointed that there is no Muslim in Kejriwal's cabinet.
Muslims themselves are to be blamed for this. Prior to and during the Delhi elections, Kejriwal left no stone unturned to court Muslims and their leaders. But neither Muslim groups nor Muslims supported him the way other segments of the population did. When he met Maulana Tauqir Raza, the firebrand Muslim leader from Bareilly, he was bitterly criticized by the media and his critics. He however defended his meeting and sought to justify seeking support of the Muslim clerics and other Muslims.
Days before the election, Kejriwal met the amir of a top Muslim group in Delhi. Kejriwal announced later that the Muslim organization was ready to back the AAP. But amazingly, the same day this group announced its support for two Congress candidates. Almost every other Muslim group did the same.
There is no doubt that Muslims are feeling left out due to their leadership's lack of ability to see what was destined to come. Even now there are many so-called Muslim intellectuals who continue to doubt the AAP.
Muslims were reluctant to join the Anna Hazare movement because of its closeness to Saffron parties. After coming out of the Anna fold, Kejriwal has portrayed himself as the champion of Aam Aadmi. But so far his crusade has been directed mainly against corruption in the government and to some extent poverty. The AAP is yet to clarify its position on issues like secularism, reservation and communal riots.
It is not clear yet whether the AAP's rise will hit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Congress more.
There are common issues for all Indians, and Kejriwal and his AAP are trying to bring the whole nation together.
Ordinary Muslims have the same issues and problems confronting them in their daily lives like ordinary Hindus, Sikhs and Christians. Poverty, illiteracy, corruption and lack of employment avenues are common concerns. The AAP promises to work on all these issues. Let's give it a chance.
By:IANS