Hyderabad: Muslims voters are confused over the advisories from community organisations regarding supporting political parties in the forthcoming elections.
Most Muslims feel that these organisations lean towards different parties, The way they are approaching the parties indicates whom they would support.
Most of these organisations have released their charter of demands separately but they mostly run in parallel. The United Muslim Forum, an umbrella of different organisations, the Jamat e Islami Hind, Jamiat Ulema e Hind and the All India Sunni Ulema Board have released their charter of demands while the Tehreek Muslim Shabban is yet to do so.
Leaders of the TRS and Congress have met the office-bearers of the United Muslim Forum and Jamat e Islami, while the Jamiat Ulema e Hind leadership held a meeting with TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy. The rest have not met any political parties.
Community activists are of the opinion that the United Muslim Forum may extend support to the TRS and MIM, while the Ulema e Hind and Sunni Ulema Board may support the Congress. The Jamat e Islami and the Tehreek Muslim Shabban may extend partial support to the TRS and MIM and the Muslim candidates of secular parties.
Mr Mohammed Mansoor Ali, a reformist, said these organisations advocated unity among Muslims but they did not have a common approach while supporting political parties. “How can the Muslim community vote en-bloc when these organisations are working in different directions,” he said.
He said the managers of these organisations were extending support with the prospect of getting nominated posts later on.
Mr Ahmed Arshad Hussain, an activist, said no Muslim organisation was sincere about redressing the community’s problems and were acting as the agents of political parties.
These organisations which are non-political in nature should not indulge in such activities, he said.
Mr Mohd Muneeb Akbar, an advocate, said instead of issuing advisories they should present the problems before political parties and assist them to bring a better manifesto. Voters should be given the liberty to choose the candidates accordingly. If these organisations issue contradictory directives, then Muslims will get confused and vote diversely which will defeat the purpose
