The upcoming parliamentary elections in India hold immense significance as opposition parties strive to halt the victories of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It also represents one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for Muslims in the country, who face multiple challenges regarding political representation and participation in the democratic process.

Two days ago, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 2024 general elections to the Indian Parliament, to be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with results declared on June 4.

During a press conference, the Election Commission stated that they are working to combat “MS4” – “muscle, money, misinformation, and Model Code of Conduct violations” —which hinder the path to free and fair elections.

Since India's independence, the country has witnessed an active democratic process characterized by cultural and religious diversity. However, political representation for Muslims remains a subject of debate and discussion, as they suffer from inadequate representation in legislative and governmental bodies.

As elections approach, some Muslim elites urge the Muslim community to reconsider supporting the (BJP), claiming that Indian Muslims do not face discrimination. These intellectuals argue that the (BJP) takes special interest in lower-class Muslims and Sufi Muslims, and there has been no major sectarian violence since 2014, asserting that India has become more peaceful over the past fifty years.

However, these claims are based on half-truths and ignore the underlying problem that shapes the lives of Muslims in India. The claim of no major violence against Muslims since 2014 is a blatant lie, as the horrific violence in Delhi following the massive “Shaheen Bagh” protest, incited by some BJP candidates (“shoot them,” “We’ll remove them from the protest site”), resulted in the deaths of 51 people, 37 of whom were Muslims.

According to a report presented by the investigative team formed by the Center for Study of Society and Secularism, the sectarian disturbances in Nuh, which occurred on July 31, 2023, are complexly linked to the systematic and explicit targeting of Muslims in the area without any possibility of justice from the state.

The inhabitants were astonished and dismayed by the ease with which Muslim youth were abducted and killed without the state taking adequate measures to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice. The criminals enjoyed impunity, and thus sectarian disturbances erupted in Gurugram, where mosques were burned and the imam was killed. The horror reached its peak during the Nasir and Junaid crimes.

Harsh Mander, who visited the victims' families, wrote: I feel a deep chill as I browse through the social media of Monu Manesar. He and his gang members livestream threats with modern weapons, mimic police car sirens, shoot at vehicles, and brutally attack the men they seize.

Accurate data on cow-related violence is unavailable because the state seeks to conceal it, but it has instilled fear among large sections of Muslims. In the Mewat region, particularly, Muslims involved in the dairy trade face dire times. A few horrific incidents alone evoke terror within us, such as the brutal murder of Shambu Lal Regar, who did not just kill Afrazul in Rajasthan but filmed himself while doing so. We witnessed the tribute paid to the accused in the killing of Khaleem Din Ansari by Janardhan Singh Gelhot, the Union Minister at the time.

Bigotry against Islam is reaching new heights every day. This climate of intimidation leads to increased Muslim isolation in cities, with Muslims being rejected from residing in mixed areas in most places, accompanied by a decline in their educational and economic status.

An example of this is the cancellation of the Maulana Azad scholarship, which was the main benefit for Muslim students seeking higher education, highlighting the economic decline of the Muslim community in recent years.

Threats of depriving Muslims of their electoral rights through the implementation of the “NRC” and “CAA” remain strong. The experience in the state of Assam showed that among the 1.9 million individuals lacking official documents, the majority were Hindus. For Hindus, the safety clause in the “CAA” exists, while for Muslims, detention centers are being established.

In summary, Muslims face several challenges in these elections, including:

• Political Neglect:

Muslims in India face neglect from major political parties, resulting in minimal Muslim participation in the political process due to the lack of interest in Muslim involvement in politics by these parties. No significant Muslim party has joined the opposition alliance formed, and Muslims are not nominated for seats with Muslim majorities. For example, Dr. S. T. Hasan was not nominated from the predominantly Muslim constituency of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, with Ms. Ruchi Veera being the candidate for this seat instead.

• Religious Discrimination:

Muslims sometimes face religious discrimination, either through discriminatory legislation or incitement against them due to their religious affiliation. In the Rampur area, no one was nominated due to police misconduct and electoral commission bias against Muslim voters.

In response to a message from a senior leader of the Samajwadi Party, Azam Khan, who is currently in Sitapur prison, the party's regional president for Rampur, Ajay Sagar, said that the party would boycott the general elections in Rampur.

He pointed to the climate of intimidation, false accusations, disrespect for women, the police, and the electoral commission forbidding people from voting, and now we are paying the same price, with the leader of the Samajwadi Party and members of Azam Khan's family behind bars.

• Weak Political Representation:

Muslims suffer from inadequate representation in parliament and government, reducing their ability to influence political decisions and participate in policy-making. So far, Muslims from opposing and ruling parties have not secured seats in states like Rajasthan. In spite of constituting at least 10% of the vote share and having significant electoral sway, with at least 10 seats in the Lok Sabha and 100 seats in legislative assemblies, Muslims found no representation in these crucial elections.

Muslim Congress leaders have voiced their objections, while leaders of the BJP argue that representation is not the only factor. In a tweet on “X,” former minister in the Ashok Gehlot government and senior Congress leader Ameen Khan stated that the Muslim minority, which has always stood strong with Congress, feels betrayed and marginalized. They have been ignored even in ticket distribution for parliamentary elections.

Despite the problems and challenges, Muslims have significant opportunities to engage in the electoral process and effect change. Some of these opportunities include forming alliances, raising political awareness, and actively participating.

• Seeking Alliances and Political Awareness:

Muslims can form alliances with other political parties to enhance their representation, work to achieve their political interests, actively participate in elections, and contribute to political dialogue. By doing so, they can influence policies and decisions that affect their interests and the broader community.

Political awareness and education can empower Muslims to better understand the political process and its significance, thereby increasing their participation and impact in the political arena.

Recognizing the importance of alliances, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, initiated the formation of the political union named the PDM “Pichhda, Dalit, and Musalman” (lower class, untouchables, and Muslims) to advocate for justice against the government.

In conclusion, the parliamentary elections in India pose both challenges and opportunities for Muslims. Through active participation, building alliances, and increasing political awareness, Muslims can achieve better representation and contribute to building a better future for the country.

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