DEFEAT FASCIST FORCES
An interview with Jn. Ibrahim
Sulaiman Sait Sahib
(President. Indian Union Muslim
League)
Article published by ‘Crescent Times’
Monthly, November. 1989
Q. As the President of a National
Party which stands for the rights of the Muslim community how
far have you been able to achieve your objectives in the parliament during last
five years ?
A : It
is not the question of achievements for last five years. It in fact is the
question of our struggle for last three
decades in the parliament. One has to understand that Muslim
League has representation in both Houses of parliament ever since it came to
existence. We had representation even in the constitution Assembly.
First of all, one has to
understand the magnitude of problems the Muslim have been facing. They are
denied their rightful, they have no security and their cultural identity is
sought to be liquidated. Under such a situation we have endeavored for the implementation of our right guaranteed
in the secular constitution, we have tried our best to solve the problems and
protect the cultural identity, of the Muslims. We have effectively met the
challenges to the Islamic ideology. At the same time we have worked for
protection of the integrity of the
country and maintenance of communal harmony.
Communal violence has been the
greatest menace and active involvement of the state police force, in acts of
the murder, arson and loot make matter worse. The continuous communal riots
have destroyed all senses of security among the Muslims. We have tried to draw
attention of the government and towards this menace and impressed on the authorities,
that is should be tackled on a national level swiftly and effectively.
We have rushed to the rescue of
victims and carried out relief work for rehabilitation of victims. We have also
fought against the inadequate representation of Muslim in services –
administration and judiciary, Police and central Forces, in Railway and
Airlines, in nationalized Banks and public sector industries etc. The Muslims
are 12% in India but nowhere in no sphere they are more than 2% to 3% Muslims.
We have therefore demanded reservation for
Muslim minority in India in services, me educational and social backwardness.
One the basis of the same success has been achieved by us in Kerala while we
were partners in coalition government. Yet another major problems facing the
Muslims is the conspiracy of fascist and communal forces to destroy the
cultural identity of the Muslims based on Islamic ideology and personnel Law
[Shariath]
It is with this objective that there has been
attempts directly and indirectly in the religion. The legislation on compulsory
sterilization, interference in Shariath by the supreme Court through judgment
on Shahbanu case. The finance Bill on 1989 envisaging sale of all Wakfs properties the investment of amount realized
in Nationalized Bank and meeting the expenses by the interest secured from the
Banks, for fulfilling the objectives of the Wakfs, like payment salaries to the
Imam, education. Sinister attempts to convert Babri Mosque at Ayodhya in to a
temple, by planning at the dead of night claiming it to be Ram Janma Bhoomi and
restriction on prayers in the Mosque taken over by the Archeological Department
as National Monuments.
The Muslim League members has to
struggle hard, in all the matters mentioned above and by the help of Allah have
succeeded in solution of many of them. The compulsory sterilization scheme had
to be withdraw after intense opposition and disaster during agitation.
Shrimathi Indira Gandhi was kind enough to understand, the basis of our
opposition to the provisions about the Wakfs and they were withdraw accepting
that paying and receiving interest is forbidden in Islam.
The interference of Shariarth by
the Supreme court was annulled by getting a bill passed in the Parliament after
a long drawn struggle in parliament and Indian wide agitation outside
Parliament. It was gratifying that Rajiv Gandhi understood the deep feelings
and intense concern for any sacrifice for the protection of Shariath.
The struggle for the protection of the
sanctity of the Babri Masjid and prayers in mosque under archeological
department is continuing. We have succeeded in getting the rights of Juma prayer
established at Safdarjung Mosque in Delhi and the Babri Mosque issue has been referred
special Bench of three Judges of Allahabad High Court.
The tragedy is the adamant
attitude of the Viswa Hindu Parishath and other communal fascist forces
refusing to join any negotiation for peaceful settlements or accept judicial decision.
They are going ahead with their declared objective of demolishing the mosque
and laying foundation of a temple over there. This was the much explosive
problem which endangers the national integrity and communal harmony. I have to mention
here that it was, we the Muslim League members, in parliament, though a few
gave all support to the minority. The Government of Indira Gandhi in 1969 after
the break –up on Indian National Congress and kept the democratic set up
functioning. We then gave full support to the nationalization of banks and
abolition of privy purses.
I must also add that we have stood shoulder to
shoulder to protect integrity of the country whether at the time of
confrontation with China and Pakistan. But we have opposed the MIS and also
defamation Bill in Parliament while fighting for protection of the minority
character and historic character of both Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia.
We have always behaved in
parliament as a constructive opposition. We have lent support to the government
in all matter which were in the interest of the country and community , and opposed all such measures
which according to us were not in the interest of the country and the
community. Ours is a record, about which we are proud.
Q. The force of Muslim League in most of the
North-Indian states is very feeble though Muslim League has fought for the
rights of the Muslims for the last four decades. Why is it so? Mr. Shihabuddin
says that the younger generation of North India do not accept Muslim League
since it is responsible for partition. Is
it correct?
A: It is not a fact that IUML has
no roots in northern parts of the country. Of course it is true for about two
decades. Muslims did not exist in northern parts of the country. This was due
to the fact that after partition, the Muslims over there were subjected to
terrible communal violence. The law and order machinery had broken down sudden
crossing over in lakhs of the Hindus from Pakistan towards India and of Muslims
towards Pakistan from India. The situation got worse with formation of Muslim
League, in states like UP, Bihar and Bengal. Together with the Muslims who were
economically sound and educated young men also went over to Pakistan. In large
number for business and jobs respectively. This had created a vacuum in the
political field and was a situation of disintegration. It was at this point of
time that Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad, called a convention and urged the Muslims
to join congress and have confidence on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then prime
minister setting security in India and for the solution of their problems,
under the existing Pakistan situation then. He also wanted the Muslim league to
dissolved. The Muslims in the Northern parts of the country to great extent
responded and all India Muslim League was dissolved in some of the northern
states.
But the Muslims in the south
decided to continue Muslim League under
the leadership of Quide-Millath Mohammed Ismail Sahib. It was at a convention
of the members of All India Muslim League Council left India. It was resolved
to have Muslim League in the India as Indian Union Muslim League with a new
constitution. Nearly four crores of
Muslims lived in India then. Their rights had to be protected and their
problems solved with the protection of their cultural identity and securing
them justice in all fields of activity.
It was only in late sixties the
Indian Union Muslim League after a period of consolidation meeting all
challenges to its existence, for over decades, decided to expand towards north.
The response was tremendous in West Bengal, Bihar, UP, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
As by the passing of time, the Muslims in north got disillusioned with congress
and the congress leadership because of the continuation of terrible communal
holocaust particularly after 1962 starting from Jabalpur and spreading to
Jamshadpur, Rourkela, Ahmadabad, Muradabad, Meeru , Allahabad, Ranchi and
various other places in the north. Together with this no problem facing the
Muslim were solved and there was complete discrimination against them with no
adequate representation in any sphere government services, administration,
Judiciary, Central Police Forces, or state police, Railways and in nationalized
banks or public sector industries. The experiment of joining other so called
secular parties was also nothing different. Even the Janatha Rule could not
provide much needed security of life, property and honour and failed to provide
jobs to the Muslim minority, who were being systematically pushed over in
economic and educational fields.
The Muslim league leadership was
therefore welcomed. Soon not only IUML units came to be organised in
Maharashtra, West Bengal, UP, Rajasthan and the union territory of Delhi, but
Muslim League candidates were elected to the state assemblies of Maharashtra, West
Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. In 1971 a coalition government with the three Muslim
league ministers was formed in West Bengal and members were elected to the
corporation and central administrated territory of Delhi the capital city of
India. How can anybody say, that younger generation in north India is not with
Muslim League.
I concede that the projection of IUML in north
has not been conspicuous and completely satisfactory. There are reasons for
this. The economically crushed political disintegrated Muslims of the north
facing communal violence continuously have no breathing time. The resources at our command have been meager. All
those who flocked towards Muslim league are young and poor Muslims, very a few
old and rich. Together with this local leadership over has to be should the
best of the integrity and character. Educated young men are coming up and
therefore the future of IUML in north is Insha Allah bright.
The charge that Muslim League has
been responsible for partition is an exploded myth. This has been established
Abdul kalam Azad in his book ‘India wins freedom’ with the additional 30 pages published recently.
Further Mr. S. M. Seervai’s book, has convincingly proved that this charges are
baseless.
Such charges , whether they come
from Mr. Shihabuddin or any other quarters
that the Muslims League is communal and fundamentalist party are farfetched
charges made with the alterier motives
well known and have to be rejected. The fact of history is that the leadership
of all India Muslim League were for implementation of the Cripp’s Plan of
Untied India with a weak centre and for the ABC states enjoying full autonomy .
It was the Congress , leadership that rejected the same destroying all changes
of a untied India.
Q. What is your opinion about the
new party formed by Mr. Shihabuddeen?
A. Mr. Syed Shihabuddeen remaining
vice president of all India Muslim Majlis Mushavara and convener of the All India
Babari Mosque Co-ordination committee. Where all Muslim political and non
political Muslim parties have joint together with all Muslims parties communal.
He has given the position by us. This is really sad and further adds insulate
to injury that we do not have confidence on the Muslims in India. He has right
enjoy to have his own views and draw conclusive but not at the cost of others
had remaining attached to be called communal and now representative Muslim body’s.
now he could not rescue a janatha dal and janatha where he stood had no future.
In the circumstance a new party
has been formed by him. No doubt he has gained prominence through Majlis
Mushavara and Babari Mosque campaign but is does not mean that all those over
there will join in, and i see neither Muslims are being attached towards Insaf
Party nor the non Muslims of course h will get some response here and there. Finally
it will be flop.
The all changes in Janatha dal or
congress coming to his rescue. In that case a seat here or a seat there is
forcible. He says the Muslim parties and particulars Muslim League have not
more than 5% support in the situation what will be the decimal proportion of
the support he enjoys remains to be seen.
In any cases one thing is clear
that the multiplicity of party’s is not going to solve the problem. The Muslims
should have their own single political party and are on the basis political
power they can bargain and achieve.
