14-point charter of demands appeals to political parties to ensure inclusive growth of Bihar
With assembly elections underway in Bihar, six Muslim community and religious organisations jointly came out with a 14-point-public manifesto. The six-page document raises a host of issues concerning the state of Bihar in general and the community in particular.
All the major parties and alliances have already released their manifestoes but they have by and large ignored the issues relating to the Muslim community which forms over 17 per cent of the state’s total population. If we take a glance at the manifestos of ‘secular’ parties, we will find minority issues are relegated to back burner due to the competitive communal politics the country is witnessing today.
In this context, the public manifesto of the six community organisations assumes much significance as it talks about inclusive growth and development.
The manifesto appeals to all ‘secular’ political parties to focus on development, progress, education, health and maintaining of communal harmony in the state. Main stakeholders in these elections are the ruling combine NDA led by JD(U), main opposition RJD-led Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan and United Democratic Secular Alliance (UDSA), Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA), United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad, BJP “rebel” Yashwant Sinha and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM are also in the fray.
The document highlights the steady decline in the representation of Muslims in the Bihar legislative assembly, pointing out that in the last assembly election in 2015 only 24 Muslim candidates made to the legislative house of 243 members which is less than 10 per cent.
It states that Bihar has over 17 per cent Muslim population and in Seemanchal region they are more than 70 per cent. Despite in huge numbers, Muslims still lag behind their fellow citizens in all spheres of life.
The document attributes backwardness of the community to low representation in the legislative bodies.
Election of weak Muslim candidates to the assembly is another reason for Muslim backwardness as they are not able to raise the voice for Muslim issues in the House because of their party affiliation and policy.
It further underlines the role of bureaucracy, saying it creates hurdles in implementing the schemes related to minorities. It cites examples of Urdu Academy and Urdu Consultative Committee which have been headless for a long time because of bureaucratic hurdles.
According to the document, the fourth reason for Muslim backwardness is to engage them in non-issues. Encroaching and grabbing lands of mosques and graveyards, and targeting them in communal violence, etc. are the major problems the community has been facing in the state.
The community organisations said it is imperative for the coming new government to empower the Muslim community at all levels if it wants to put the state onto the path of inclusive progress.
In this regard, the first demand of the manifesto is that the government should protect the citizenship of people. In the wake of CAA, NRC and NPR, it says these issues have created fear among the people. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the parties to ensure the people that under the garb of CAA or NRC nobody will be harassed. They should announce that the NRC or NPR will not be rolled out in the state.
In the wake of continued onslaught on the democratic institutions by the communal forces, the document asks the political parties to protect democracy and democratic institutions in the country which have been built over the years.
It also calls upon the political parties to strengthen secularism and the secular fabric of the country and not to give tickets to those candidates who openly spout and foment communal passions.
The document also talks about issues of farmers, workers, migrant workers, health, and education, etc. It says there should be a rehabilitation policy for migrant workers who came back to home because of Covid pandemic from different parts of the country.
It also appeals to the political parties to ensure 300 days employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme as Bihar is one of the poorest states in the country. While asking the political parties to give relief to farmers, the document says the new government should set up a Disaster Fund for farmers. It also asks them to improve healthcare services as they are in bad shape in the state. The document also focuses on the education system which is in a mess due to pandemic-induced lockdown and its aftermath. The new government should prepare a new blueprint for reviving the education system in the state.
The document also talks about Muslim issues in great detail.
MINORITY SCHEMES
It appeals to political parties to ensure and strengthen Minority welfare schemes being run in the state. It points out that funds earmarked for minority welfare are not fully utilised in every financial year. For eliminating educational backwardness of the community, the government should provide a 25 per cent grant to schools run by Muslims. It also demands that community and religious organisations’ representatives should be given representation in the minority related government panels and boards.
PROTECTION OF WAQF PROPERTIES
It says Bihar boasts of huge waqf properties but the major malaise is corruption. Illegal occupation of waqf properties is rampant across the state. If these illegal possessions are removed, it will help in a big way to reduce poverty among Muslims. For this, the document demands:
- To implement Waqf Act in letter and spirit;
- To intensify the waqf survey for identifying Waqf properties;
- To make survey report public and upload it on the Sunni and Shia waqf boards’ websites;
- The district administration to extend support in removing illegal occupation of properties;
- To penalise the officials who failed in removing adverse possession on waqf lands; and
- To use the income of waqf for the educational activities of the community.
URDU LANGUAGE
Urdu has been the second state language since 1980s. However, it was not fully implemented according to the Gazette notification. The main reason behind it is the government’s step-motherly attitude and bureaucracy. The Public Manifesto highlights that thousands of posts for teachers have been lying vacant in Urdu medium schools, colleges and universities for years. There is also a dearth of books in Urdu for school children.
The document demands that for giving Urdu a second language status in true sense, it should be separated from the state secretariat and be placed under a separate and autonomous Urdu Development Board. It also makes a host of other demands for the promotion and development of Urdu at all levels.
MADRASA EDUCATION
It states that the Madrasa education has been suffering due to political interference for a long time. It has affected education in madrasas. The document demands to set up a Madrasa Education Commission for selecting the teaching staff that will improve the standard of Madrasa education.
PROTECTION OF PERSONAL LAWS
While demanding to ensure the protection of Personal laws and other religious customs, the poll document also asks the political parties to make clear their stand on common civil code. It says whenever the Centre tries to implement the UCC, the ruling party of Bihar must oppose it tooth and nail.
COMMUNAL HARMONY
In view of worsening communal situation in the country due to ascendency of communal forces at the centre and in several states, the document asks the political parties to ensure peace and tranquillity in the state which is necessary for the progress of the state.
It says that in case communal violence breaks out, the district administration and police should be held accountable.
It further demands that to revamp the police force and give due representation to minorities according to their population in the police force.
The document was dispatched to all political parties which are in electoral fray. Speaking with Radiance Viewsweekly, Jamiat Ulema Bihar General Secretary Maulana Husn Ahmad Qadri said they did not publicise the document through press conferences and advertisements as it would have proved counter-productive in the present highly surcharged atmosphere.
“We have sent the copies of our manifesto to all secular parties and got their acknowledgment,” said Maulana Qadri. He said it is unfortunate that most of the parties did not give due attention to Muslim issues in their manifestos.
Besides, Jamiat Ulema-i- Hind, Bihar, the document is signed by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Bihar, Imarat Shariah Bihar, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat and Majlis-e-Ulema, Al Khutba, Imaamia, Bihar.
The elections for the 243 Assembly seats are being held in three phases: October 28, November 3 and November 7 and the results will be declared on November 10.