NEW DELHI: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan has called for stronger Muslim political representation in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, asserting that the community would no longer remain confined to being a vote bank but would emerge as elected representatives and political leaders.Speaking to news agency ANI on Saturday, Pathan cited the electoral success of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, saying Muslims should aspire to occupy positions of political leadership and raise issues concerning the community and the poor. He also said that one day “Abdul” could become the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and even the prime minister of India.“Abdul has won. He will go to Vidhan Sabha. And he will become the voice of Muslims and poor people. He will fight for justice. And one day, Abdul will also become the Prime Minister of India. Remember my words. He can also become the chief minister of UP. Earlier, we said that he can also become the Mayor. Now there are so many corporate leaders. One day, Abdul will also become the chief minister of UP,” Pathan said.Targeting those who allegedly use derogatory stereotypes against Muslims, Pathan said the community would no longer accept being reduced to such labels.“In Michigan, Abdul has become a senator. He has won a historic victory. And the BJP people are using Abdul as a slur. They are passing derogatory remarks. That Abdul makes puncture. They are getting slapped. Now Abdul will not sit on the floor. Now Abdul will take part. Abdul will win. He will go to Vidhan Sabha,” he said.Earlier on Wednesday, AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi had also criticised the BJP and the Samajwadi Party (SP), asserting that Muslims would no longer be treated as mere vote banks but would emerge as political leaders and lawmakers in Uttar Pradesh.Citing El-Sayed’s electoral success in the US, Owaisi argued that Muslims have long been subjected to stereotypes in Indian political discourse.“Abdul won in Michigan. Did this not become an issue when I said something on it? People from the BJP used to mock and say, ‘Abdul puncture banata hai’ (Abdul repairs punctures). The SP people used to say, ‘Abdul dari bicchayega’ (Abdul will spread the carpets),” Owaisi told ANI.
Pathan targets BJP, Congress and SP
Pathan also accused the BJP of discriminating against Muslims over their religious practices, food habits and places of worship, alleging that the community had faced growing hostility under the party’s rule.“Since the BJP government came into power in the last 12 years, they have completely ruined the country. Today, the BJP government has launched an open war against the Muslims. They hate our prayers, hijab, food, mosques, madrasas, bulldozers, mob lynching of Muslims,” he said.He also criticised opposition parties, including the Congress and the SP, accusing them of approaching Muslims for electoral support without addressing their social, economic and educational concerns.“Both parties have used the Muslims only for votes. They have done nothing else,” he said.Referring to the Mahmood Rahman Committee and the Ranganath Mishra Commission reports, Pathan said their findings highlighted the community’s socio-economic backwardness.“The report of the Mahmood Rahman Committee is scary. Look at the report of the Ranganath Mishra Committee. All the reports are a testimony to the fact that the Muslims are backward,” he said.Questioning the response of political leaders to issues concerning Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, Pathan asked whether they had visited families affected by demolitions or reached out to Muslim leaders who had been jailed.“When the Muslims were oppressed in madrasas, where they were bulldozed, did you ever go there? When Azam Khan went back to jail, did you go to meet him?” he asked.“The people are watching. They will get an equal answer in the elections,” he added.
Pathan cites declining Muslim fertility rate
Pathan also referred to the debate over Muslim population growth, arguing that the community’s total fertility rate (TFR) had declined over the years.
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“These numbers show that the total fertility rate of Muslims is decreasing. In 1992-1993, the Muslim’s TFR rate was 4.4. It decreased to 2.6 in 2015-16. After that, it decreased to 2.3 in 1921. So the TFR rate is decreasing,” he said.He accused certain political leaders of spreading misinformation and hostility towards Muslims, referring to remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and a BJP MP on having three-four and four-five children.“Why don’t you stop them? And here, they are spreading lies. They are spreading hatred. They just want to defame the Muslims,” he said.Urging people to refrain from making derogatory remarks against the community, Pathan said, “The people have become sensible. So stop talking nonsense.”
