The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen is playing the Dalit card to the hilt these days. Dalit-Muslim unity, the party feels, will result in a win-win situation for both the marginalised communities in the coming elections. This forms the crux of the Majlis campaign these days. Party president Asaduddin Owaisi, keeps harping on this point in meeting after meeting.
“Dalit-Muslim empowerment is the need of the hour as both the groups are socially, educationally and economically backward”, he says.
The coming together of Muslims and Dalits is also necessary to ensure that communalism doesn’t raise its ugly head in Telangana. The Majlis thinks communal harmony will be at stake with BJP gaining strength after bifurcation of the State. To stop the injustices being heaped on the weaker sections and to thwart the ‘evil designs’ of Sangh Parivar, it is necessary that both the communities unite, Mr. Asaduddin says.
Dalits and Muslims are among the most oppressed groups and if they make common cause they stand to reap political dividends. As per the 2011 census, Dalits constitute 15.44 per cent of the population in Telangana, STs 9.34 per cent and Mulims 12.5 per cent. In Seemandhra, the Dalits account for 17.10 per cent, STs 5.33 per cent and Muslims 7 per cent. “If the two communities come together, they can create electoral history”, says Mr. Asaduddin who speaks highly of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
“Though SCs and STs are covered by political reservations real power eludes them. On the other hand BCs and minorities are always at the mercy of the upper castes when it comes to allotment of tickets for Assembly and Parliament. Therefore, these groups ought to unite to attain political empowerment,” Majlis leaders say.
The Majlis is planning to contest the Yellandu Assembly seat in Khammam district reserved for STs and the Zaheerabad and Nandikatkur Assembly seats reserved for SCs. It is in the process of identifying non minority candidates here. The party had supported the SC-ST sub plan in the Assembly.
The Majlis, which is entering the fray in the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat, is expected to contest at least five Assembly segments here. The party has decided to field candidates in Secunderabad, Muhseerabad, Amberpet and Jubilee Hills. It has already announced candidate for Nampally segment which forms part of the Secunderabad LS seat.
