Ahead of the crucial Karnataka elections, the Congress might be facing an exodus of sorts, with its Muslim members becoming disillusioned with the party. As per these Muslim members, the party has become crowded for them to climb the ranks.
As per the report, what is making things worse for them is alleged nepotism by veteran leaders. This drive to promote one’s own children seems to be resulting in the minority quota getting filled, before the common members get a chance.
The nepotism in the minority section of the party is so deep-set that former Kalaburagi Youth Congress president Nasir Hussain Ustad decided to quit the party, because he felt he would be denied a ticket for accommodating the wife of former Minister Qamural Islam.
This lack of opportunity has resulted in youth Congress members like Syed Arshadulla quitting the party after a service of over two decades, by alleging that the party offers no hope of recognition.
External factors like a possible inclusion of dissident JD(S) MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan has further disillusioned these Muslim members, who feel that the opportunities might become even more far and few.
Such news about this Muslim abandonment comes in the backdrop of allegations of minority appeasement against the Siddaramaiah government.
We had reported how the BJP had alleged that Siddaramiah has asked for the opinion of district police heads in the state regarding withdrawal of cases lodged against minorities in communal incidents. The letter signed by AIGP (General) of Karnataka, addressed to 23 district police heads (including communally sensitive Mangaluru) asked for their clear opinion regarding withdrawal of cases lodged against minorities for the past five years.
Following a backlash, the Siddaramaiah government proceeded to ‘correct’ the letter in question by asking the police to review cases against all innocent people involved in various cases (including communal incidents) in the state. The government used the defence of a ‘clerical error’, to address the issue of specific reference to minorities in the earlier letter.
But such ‘corrections’ don’t totally vindicate the Siddaramaiah government as it has also been accused of dropping 175 cases against extremist Islamic organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) in 2015.
It remains to be seen how Congress President reacts to this Muslims abandoning his party, and what steps he decides to take in this regard, considering he has been striving hard to create a soft Hindutva for himself in the recent assembly elections.