Maharashtra polls: Muslims divided over vote among Congress, NCP, BJP, others

MUMBAI: Though some clerics and activists have urged Muslims to back "secular" candidates, the community seems to be divided. Many have sprung up to question the "secularism" of the Congress-NCP, which have traditionally got the community's support.

"For over six decades so-called secular parties lived in the fear of parties affiliated to the Sangh Parivar. The significant presence of Muslims at BJP and Shiv Sena rallies proves that the community is coming out of the Congress-NCP trap, which is a good sign," said Ghulam Peshimam, convener of Khula Manch, an initiative of Muslim groups working for the community's political empowerment.

While the All-India Milli Council has appealed for support to secular candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami has declared support to candidates belonging to various parties, including new entrant Majlise-Ittihadul Muslameen. "The BJP and Sena want to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra, while MIM only speaks for the rights of Muslims," said Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson Aslam Ghazi.

But some activists question this. "MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's tone and tenor is communal. If Hindu organizations seek for votes in the name of religion and are labeled communal, how does MIM become secular when its leaders invoke religious symbols and sacred texts? Muslims will have to be pragmatic and realize the country's changed situation," said Salim Alware of the Indian Muslim Intellectual Forum. F M Thakur, of the Maharashtra Muslim Sangh, which has pledged support to the BJP, slammed the secular parties' "politics of fear".

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Al-Nasser Zakaria slammed many "spoilers" who are in the fray to divide secular votes. He said minorities, including Muslims, would choose the Congress again.