SAAD BIN ZIA discusses misdemeanour of Mulayam Singh Yadav of inducting former BJP CM of UP and main culprit of Babri Masjid demolition.
Muslims of India are extremely angry with the Samajwadi Party (SP) for inclusion of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh into the party folds. They are holding meetings and organising press conferences to express their deep anguish over this step of Mulayam. A number of senior Muslim SP members have left the party whereas some are still sticking to it. This has created a big dilemma for the Muslim leaders. By joining hands with Kalyan Singh, the SP supremo has hurt the sentiments of the entire Muslims of India. It is a fact that it was due to the Muslim support and sympathy that he occupied the Chief Minister’s post thrice. The enmity of Kalyan Singh with the Muslims is an open fact. A level-headed person – with some iota of self respect – will not accept him. How come a party that is so keen on seeking Muslim vote is teaming with a person whose enmity is above board.
In the aftermath of the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 Mulayam Singh Yadav and SP emerged as the sole saviour of Muslims in India. At that time some of the senior Muslim as well as non-Muslim leaders left the Congress Party and rallied behind Mulayam. Mulayam supported the reconstruction of Babri Masjid at its original site. He had also introduced some pro-Muslim policies and programmes. It was in his regime that Urdu was declared the second official language of the state. Special drives were conducted for recruiting Urdu teachers in the state. Muslim representation in some sectors registered some increase. Notably, when the Central government imposed ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) Mulayam stood out defiant and defended the student outfit. These and other such pro-Muslim efforts earned Mulayam Singh the nickname of ‘Maulana Mulayam’. He was considered a Messiah of Muslims who only could save the community and take it out of the mess.
Post-Babri Masjid demolition Muslims became emotionally attached to the SP. However, on the contrary, the SP always betrayed the faith posed in it by the Muslims. Now perhaps the breaking point has arrived. Induction of Kalyan Singh has offended the sentiments of Muslims like never before. Mulayam has committed a blunder by inducting the biggest culprit responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid. The decision to induct Kalyan Singh in SP shows the political bankruptcy of Mulayam. We can see a tough challenge in the offing for the SP in upcoming general elections. Another issue that is of particular concern is bypassing of senior Muslim SP leaders by the party chief Mulayam Singh and General Secretary Amar Singh.
It may be recalled that after the demolition of Babri Masjid a case was registered against the then BJP Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh. Subsequently he was sentenced to one day imprisonment. After his release he declared, “In the demolition of Babri Mosque no policemen were involved. It’s my own deed and I am proud of it. If I have to go to jail repeatedly for this offence, I am ready for this. In fact I would feel pride in going to jail for this noble purpose.”
After demolishing Babri Masjid Kalyan Singh has never repented for his actions neither to the Muslims in particular nor to the Indian people in general. It is not only unfortunate but paradoxical as well that the one claiming to be the guardian of the Babri Masjid and the other who is its destroyer, have come together. The SP supremo has completely lost the trust of the Muslim community by joining hands with Kalyan Singh. Simply put, this is nothing but opportunistic politics. To them principles and ideologies have no meaning at all. Actually Kalyan Singh violated the oath of office by not permitting the central paramilitary forces to take charge as well as by ordering police not to fire at kar sevaks. In fact, Mulayam has already given him a clean chit.
It is an irony that Mulayam is now leaving no stone unturned to present Kalyan as the one who holds a considerable political clout in the Uttar Pradesh politics. This is just nothing but a bluffing trick played with the Muslims of India. In a move apparently aimed at gaining popular Muslim support and to woo different sections of the Muslim community Mulayam on February 4 met Ulema of Barelvi sect in Lucknow. In that meeting that lasted for close to five hours he failed to convince the Ulema. He put before them his arguments behind inducting Kalyan Singh in the party but the Ulema were not convinced. It is learnt that senior SP leader Ahmad Hasan brokered the meeting between the Ulema and Mulayam Singh. Those who met Mulayam Singh after much persuasion included Maulana Abdul Qadir, Maulana Idrees Bastawi, Maulana Iqbal, Maulana Yaseen Akhtar Misbahi and Maulana Shameem etc.
Earlier, in an attempt to impress the Ulema of Deoaband, Mulayam on February 3 dispatched Amar Singh and senior leader Qazi Rasheed Masood to Deoband. Much to their embarrassment none of the senor officials at the Darul Uloom Deoband (DUD) received them. Dejected, the duo headed for Darul Uloom Deoband (DUD-Wakf). Vice Rector (Naib Mohtamim) and faculty members of DUD-Wakf met them. Addressing students of DUD (Wakf) Thakur Amar Singh attempted hard enough to clear doubts over the inclusion of Kalyan Singh in the party. Mr. Amar Singh admitted that Kalyan Singh is the culprit in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
“We are neither overlooking this fact nor are trying to defend him. In fact he has not been inducted formally into the party folds. Rather we are working on the adage ‘enemy’s enemy is friend’. Mr. Kalyan Singh has unleashed a war against his former party and we are just providing a platform for this,” clarified Mr. Amar Singh.
“We want to keep the BJP out of power. For this we can join hands even with the staunchest enemy, and since Kalyan Singh is helping us in this endeavour, Mulayam Singh has joined hands with him after giving much thought to it.”
In an attempt ostensibly to gain more sympathy Mr. Amar Singh added, “We are doing all this for you (Muslims) because we are well aware that your biggest enemy is Lal Krishna Advani. I fear your sentiments. Your blind support can make or break any government. Our party owes its existence due to you only. Without you it is incomplete.”
After returning empty handed from the Darul Uloom and Darul Uloom (Wakf) Qazi Rasheed took Amar Singh to the house of the President of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (JUH) Maulana Arshad Madani and tried to persuade him to support SP but in vain. Maulana Madani made it clear in explicit terms, “I am a Congressman first hence cannot extend support to SP. Muslims can never forgive Kalyan Singh. The role played by Kalyan Singh in the demolition of Babri Mosque can never be overlooked,” stated Maulana Madani.
Curiously enough, Students Islamic Federation (SIF) has decided to launch a 20-day nationwide ‘Meet Us’ campaign on February 8 to clear the misunderstandings about the SP after the (informal) inclusion of Kalyan. Initially the focus of the campaign will be UP. The In-charge of the Campaign Mr. Aleemullah told that members of the SIF will meet several Muslim Ulema and leaders and convince them about Mulayam Singh’s strategy for defeating the communal forces in the country. Those listed for meeting include Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi, Maulana Marghoobur Rahman Qasmi, Maulana Saeed al-Azmi, Maulana Yaseen Akhtar Misbahi, Maulana Feeroz Raza Khan, Maulana Tahir Madani, and Maulana Mahfooz Ahmad, etc.