The destruction of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya by Hindu right-wing forces in 1992 gave birth to several Muslim-centric parties and organisations in Tamil Nadu – the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamat, the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) and so on – which have been challenging the traditional Islamic parties (Indian Union Muslim League and Indian National League). The grand old parties are being criticised for ‘surfacing only during elections’.
The popularity of more vocal Islamic parties could be ascertained by the way they are being treated by the traditional Dravidian power houses. Prof. M.H. Jawahirullah’s Manithaneya Makkal Katchi has been allotted an equal number of seats (5) as the Indian Union Muslim League, which has traditionally aligned with the DMK.
Similarly, the offshoot of MMK, Manithaneya Jananayaka Katchi, led by Thameemum Ansari, which will be contesting its first election, is likely to be allotted seats by the AIADMK in the upcoming elections.
Speaking about the new parties, the leaders of the grand old parties maintain that their rise is exaggerated and often doesn’t reflect the ground reality. K.M. Kader Mohideen, president, (IUML), says the ideologies of these parties revolve only around ‘Babri Masjid demolition’.
“Their demands and resolutions are very similar to what the IUML has been saying for so many decades now. What is new? Yes, it is true that their religious propaganda is popular with a section of Muslim youth.
However, the youngsters quickly understand their folly and come back into our fold,” he added.
“We have resisted the Hindu right in Parliament. We have fought hard to secure the political and legal rights of Muslims in India. What we don’t believe is bringing women and children to the roads to protest like them,” he said. One of the main reasons for the rise of the parties and organisations is that they filled the political void left by traditional Muslim parties, says a spokesperson of a new party.
“The IUML was a big party with tall leaders, but in the 90s, there was a necessity for us to emerge. At the time, there was need to actively mobilise Muslim youth and voice our opposition. Unlike the traditional parties, we won’t surface only during elections. We have actively demanded reservations in jobs and education, sought the release of Muslim youth who have been jailed for more than 10 years. Though we are predominantly known as a Muslim party, we also fight for the general needs of Tamil Nadu,” says Prof. Jawahirullah.
Answering criticism about the protests against ‘Innocence of Muslims’ movie, Mr. Jawahirullah said his party did not believe in violence and that it was an ‘exception’.
Organisations such as Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamat, which prescribe a much more puritanical reading of Islamic religious texts, say that parties such as the IUML and the INL are losing their base because they have compromised on religious values. “We have been campaigning against unIslamic practices. But these parties speak in favour of them. No wonder the youth of today are leaving them,” said a TNTJ spokesperson.
Vote bank
Ravi Kumar, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi general secretary, said all major parties view the Muslim votes as a ‘vote bank’ and prefer to take them as allies.
“They don’t vote en masse for one party. They also have their preferences and party affiliations. To say that Muslims would simply vote for a Muslim party or their alliance is wrong,” he said.
Mr. Kader Mohideen agrees. “There are no constituencies that are considered ‘safe’.
