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Congress assiduously wooing Muslims

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The Congress is pulling out all stops to woo minority, especially Muslim, votes. The party's manifesto, to be released shortly, will highlight various welfare measures for them in a bid to wrest power from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Party general secretary Ahmed Patel told rediff.com that the leadership had taken cognisance of the fact that the Muslims were coming back to the Congress in large numbers. "This is because of the Muslim community's perception that the Congress is the only party capable of fighting communal forces led by the BJP," Patel pointed out.

Care is being taken by the Congress leadership to seek and address those issues which affect them the most. Consequently, the party manifesto is being prepared after considering suggestions from various sections of the community.

According to All India Congress Committee secretary Irfan Kidwai, education among Muslims is to be a priority. He pointed out that the party manifesto would ensure infrastructure facilities like the setting up of a Madrassa Board. Besides, talented Muslim students would be given modern educational facilities like computer education, visual and electronic aids etc.

Another aspect engaging the Congress party's attention is employment avenues for Muslims. Kidwai underscored that Muslim party members have been clamouring for job reservations for the community on the lines of job reservations for the backward classes. This includes the armed forces and the para-military forces where Muslims feel that their representation should be higher.

Significantly, the Congress leadership is understood to have received suggestions from Muslim members for the representation of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh's Provincial Armed Constabulary. According to Kidwai, Muslims in the country have been shocked at the blatantly partisan role of the PAC during communal disturbances.

Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in late 1992, the Muslim community is keen for a legislation to protect their places of worship. It is learnt that the party manifesto will include the proposal for strengthening the Protection of the Places of Worship Act. However, Kidwai pointed out that the party would not mention anything about Ayodhya in the manifesto because the decision rests with the court on the contentious issue.

It is learnt that the Congress manifesto will moot the enactment of legislation to facilitate the implementation of Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution. Article 29 says that any section of the ''citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.''

That is why the manifesto will make a strong case of promoting Urdu and other languages of the minorities. In the same context, it will propose the strengthening of the Wakf Board.

Apart from giving more teeth to the National Minorities Commission, the manifesto will propose an economic package for the minorities that emphasises the National Minorities Development Corporation. Besides, it would propose increasing the fund in the Minorities Finance Corporation from the present Rs 700 million to Rs 2000 million.

In a significant step, the Congress manifesto would propose the enactment of a legislation to identify the artisanal skills of various categories of skilled workers among the minorities like bunkars, weavers, craftsmen etc.

Commenting on the wooing of the minorities, the chairman of the AICC's minorities cell Arjun Singh said: "With the marginalisation of the so-called Third Front, the Congress is well equipped to take on the BJP and its allies. No wonder the Muslims are flocking to the Congress. Under Sonia Gandhi's leadership, we will defeat the communal forces because the minorities are with us.''

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