The scheduled transfer of power from the Bahujan Samaj Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party, though not unexpected, has disappointed the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh.
Especially rattled are the supporters of the BSP.who expect the heat to be turned on them in their own localities where they will be asked why they are supporting Kalyan Singh? In fact, many of them have already started taking steps to distance themselves from the BJP.
Three BSP MLAs have issued statements saying they will not sit with the BJP in the Assembly. Qutubuddin Mansoori, a prominent local leader, has said he had warned Kanshi Ram that the Muslims and secular Hindus would desert the party if he allowed the BJP to come to power.
More From This Section
The statements are meant to guard them against the offensive which they are certain will be launched against them.
There are others who have seized the opportunity to come into the limelight. The president of All India Muslim Forum (AIMF), Nehaluddin, has filed a writ in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court against the installation of Kalyan Singh as the chief minister since the latter was convicted by the Supreme Court for one day in the Babri demolition case. In the latest chargesheet, Singh has been named as one of the accused. The BJP, which was the first to demand the resignations of the likes of Laloo Prasad Yadav, should in turn honour its stand by refusing to install Singh, Nehaluddin argued.
The AIMF president has further pointed out that the Election Commission had declared that criminals should not be allowed to contest elections and the Parliament had debated the issue for four days. Nehaluddin has planned mass demonstrations on September 22 and 23.
However, Javed Murtaza, a Shia lawyer, dismissed the writ as meaningless since the handover was expected ever since the two parties entered into the arrangement six months ago. Kalyan Singh had been chosen to lead in a democratic set up hence there was no remedy against it, he said. But he added that the government was unlikely to survive since Mayawati would act as an obstructionist. In fact, most members of the community are pinning their hopes on Mayawati not allowing the government to function.
Surprisingly, the handover has generated no fear although a great deal of anxiety. Says Asif, a readymade garment maker, We do not rely on whoever comes to power for our security .We have made ourselves sufficiently strong to defend ourselves.
Some discerning members of the community have also realised that it is Mulayam Singh who is responsible for Mayawati turning towards the BJP. Says Imran, If Mulayam had not done what he has then Mayawati would not have gone back to the BJP. He has forced her hands. Otherwise she would have continued to remain an obstructionist for the BJP.
Muslims in the state are playing sophisticated politics today. They have realised the possibility of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress coming together and, therefore, have started making a success of Congress meetings in their localities. Ram Lal Rahi, a Congress leader whose meet held to win over the Raza brothers of the Barelvi school ended in a fiasco three years ago, has been able to make a success of his rally held recently.
There are a large number of Muslims who appreciate Mayawati particularly because she has kept the SP-patronised mafia dons on the run.
Yet, the coming days will be difficult for the Muslim leaders of the party because whatever Kalyan Singh does, he cannot wash off the Babri stigma.