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 Indian
Muslims criticise underrepresentation in Council of Ministers
PRESS STATEMENT
Joint Committee of Muslim Organisations for Empowerment (JCMOE)
JCMOE Criticizes Muslim Underrepresentation in
Council of Ministers
Recalls Positive Muslim Role in UPA’s Victory Despite Very Few Tickets
Suggests Reservation for Muslims in Legislature or Introduction of
Proportional System
Pleads for Muslim Unity Under Muslim-Core Secular Party, dialogue with
Secular Forces New Delhi,
Friday, 29
March 2009: Syed Shahabuddin, the Convener of JCMOE, has issued the
following statement:
In a country of continental dimension, marked by plurality and diversity,
regions as well as social groups or sub-groups naturally aspire to due
representation in the power structure i.e. the legislature and the
executive.
In the General Election 2009, 30 Muslims were elected to the Lok Sabha,
with 20 under the banner of UPA (11, INC, 4 NC, 3 TMC, 2 IUML) and 10
others (BSP 4, CPM 3, MIM 1, AUDF 1 and BJP 1). Since the INC and allies
have secured a total of 265, Muslims expected a least 11 to be inducted in
the Council of Ministers. In the event, only five have been, two from J&K
in the cabinet and 3 as MOS, 1 each from UP, Kerala and West Bengal. The
north has only 2 Muslims, Salman Khursheed MOS (Independent Charge) and
Sultan Ahmad MOS (West Bengal) Muslims wonder how much load the two can
carry.
This is a very depressing situation for the Muslims.
The INC and its allies, the TMC, and the DMK had
fielded in very few Muslims in many states. The general count was either
nil or one or two! Yet in all direct contests with BJP, the Muslims voted
in favour of the UPA. In Kerala they voted for the UDF and in Bengal for
INC-TMC coalition, to defeat the Left. In multi-cornered contests, as in
UP and Bihar, Muslim voters showed a marked shift toward the INC. The
Muslim voters shunned the ‘Muslim’ parties (except in Assam). All
analysts agree on the positive contribution of the Muslims toward UPA’s
victory over the NDA. But instead of being rewarded, they feel ignored and
marginalized in the formation of government.
Group representation should be a function of its population or of its
share in the parliamentary party. Seen from any angle, while some
groups and some states have been over- represented, the Muslims and even
states with large Muslim population have been under-represented.
The Muslims fear they will be largely voiceless in the 15th Lok Sabha,
their concerns will not be projected, their problems; will not be taken
up; even information on their welfare will not be forth coming; reports on
the performance of government schemes & official bodies will not be
discussed.
After this, experience Muslims are seriously thinking that in the
absence of proportional electoral system, they can never secure due
representation without reservation and without unity under a Muslim-core
secular party which can may ally with other secular parties on terms of
equality at the time of election.
In 2004 Muslims began with high hopes but ended with disappointment and
frustration.
In 2009 they begin the next lap of the political journey with a heavy
heart but with the hope that the Secular members of the Parliament shall
not totally ignore their problems but strive sincerely to place them on
the national agenda.
Sd/-
Syed Shahabuddin
Convener
Joint Committee of Muslim Organisations for Empowerment (JCMOE)
D-250, Abul Fazal Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi - 110 025 Phone:
2694 6780 Fax: 2694 7346
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