Patna: IUML President Mr. E. Ahamed’s two-day visit to Bihar (March 13-14), covering four districts of the state, has instilled new confidence in the Party rank and file, paving the way for strengthening the Indian Union Muslim League in Bihar.
Thousands turned up at the IUML president’s public meetings at Siwan, Chapra, Samastipur and Darbhanga. This was the first people-contact tour by the party president in a North Indian State after the January 2010 national delegates meet in Bangalore that adopted the VISION 2020 document. The document had outlined the initiatives for strengthening the Party.
IUML President Mr. E. Ahamed, who is also the Union Minister of State for Railways, was accompanied by Mr. E. T. Mohammed Basheer, MP and Secretary, Kerala IUML, and Mr. Khorrum Anis Omer, IUML National Secretary. They were accorded a rousing welcome upon their arrival at Siwan by the party workers and well wishers. Party activists led by Mr. Naim Akhter, President, IUML Bihar and other state leaders cheered Mr Ahamed and the visiting team at Siwan Railway station. Moulana Kausar Hayath Khan, President, IUML U.P., had also travelled to Siwan to be present at the IUML President’s reception and subsequent public meetings. The President and other IUML leaders addressed public meetings at Siwan, Chapra, Samstipur and Darbhanga.
In his speech, Mr Ahamed reiterated the Party’s stand on reservation and demanded 10 percent representation to the Muslim community in all fields. He criticized political parties like RJD and Samajwadi Party for exploiting and taking advantage of the Muslim sentiments without doing anything for the welfare of the community.
The IUML President urged that the Muslims to be beware of these political parties that have continuously exploited the community. “You have experimented with almost all political parties. Now you should realize the actual situation and be alert. We are not born to be just voting machines of other parties”, Mr. Ahamed said. He told the community that unity is strength, and urged them to assemble under the banner of IUML for securing their full democratic rights.
The IUML President pointed out that all political parties were opening “outlets” to attract Muslims in north India. “For long years you had been waiting in front of such outlets, expecting that you will gain your dues. But nothing has happened till date. Don’t waste your valuable time there. Now the Muslim League is here; come and join our side. You will get everything: reservation, education, development, redressal of grievances, welfare and assurance of constitutional rights etc. We have proved it in Kerala”, Mr Ahamed said to thunderous applause from the crowd.
Mr. E. T. Mohammed Basheer MP and former Education Minister of Kerala, said the Muslims should realize that “the most powerful weapon in a parliamentary democracy is the ballot, and ballot alone; and we should use it in a wiser way”. He felt it was quite unfortunate that the minorities have not yet realized the value of ballot. They were giving their vote to different political parties with out getting any benefit to the community.
Mr Mohammed Basheer regretted that ‘opportunistic political parties’ were using Muslim votes to grab political power and thereafter totally ignoring the community. He said: “This is nothing but use and discard policy”. Mr Mohammed Basheer said if Muslims resolve to be with IUML by discarding the political parties that exploited them, it would prove to be the beginning of the move to the community’s success. It would also prove to be a way to success with an honourable existence for the community, Mr Basheer added.
