Hyderabad: Four independent candidates from the Muslim community contesting in the Jubilee Hills by-election have accused the three major political parties of systematically side-lining Muslim leaders from positions of power. Raising questions over the absence of a Muslim minister in the Telangana cabinet until now they claimed that Congress’ move to hurriedly induct Mohammad Azharuddin — ahead of the polls — is only a last-minute electoral gimmick, even as the model code of conduct is in force.Their poll cry: to ensure Muslims get their due share in reservations, welfare schemes, and loans meant for small businesses. “Be it the Congress, BRS or BJP, all of them have deliberately kept Muslim leaders out of power. Now, after realising that voters are feeling this gap, they have made one from the community a minister. But the fact remains that Muslims continue to be neglected,” said Anwar Khan, a retired professor contesting as an independent. “What happened to 12% reservation for Muslims? Why did the govt fail to protect waqf lands?” asked the 67-year-old whose joined the fray for the fourth time on a baby walker symbol. He said he’d address these issues, along with various civic problems, if elected to power. Khan claimed that this holds true of BRS as well as it organised a minority convention, for the first time, to influence Muslim voters in the constituency. The Nov 11 by-election will have 58 candidates in the fray, including 11 from the Muslim community — four of them independents. Of the roughly 4 lakh voters, about 1.3 lakh belong to the community. “Voters know how they have been ignored. They are neither getting widow pensions nor are loans being sanctioned to start small businesses. Nobody is talking about reservation,” said Junaid Anam Siddiqui, another independent , who sells second-hand two-wheelers. Siddiqui, contesting for the fourth time, added: “Since all major parties have failed Muslim voters, it is time they give others, like me, a chance. I will work to ensure Muslims and other voters get benefits from all schemes.” Asma Begum contesting on a battery torch symbol, for the first time, is one of the only two women candidates from the community in the contest — the other being All India Majlis-e-Inquilab-e-Millet’s Shaik Rafath Jahan. The independant said it is unfortunate that there isn’t even sufficient graveyard land in the constituency. “We have no jobs, reservation has not been enhanced, and we don’t even have land,” she said assuring to first resolve unemployment. The candidates urged voters not to fall into the trap of political parties and instead elect those with clean records. “That is more important than looking at the community of contestants. Voters should elect someone, like me, who lives among them and works to solve their problems,” said Rahman Shareef, another independent from Saidabad who runs a rice store. He will take the plunge for the second time after he contested from Yakutpura in 2023.MSID:: 124995565 413 |
