Pasmanda Muslims' plight in focus after PM Modi's appeal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to BJP to gain the support of the Pasmanda Muslims, after the party's bypoll wins in Azamgarh and Rampur, has again put their plight and demands in focus amid the gradually changing political affiliations of this backward community in UP.

Activists representing the community have acknowledged the PM's call, even as some also expressed their exasperation against the Samajwadi Party, which they said had for long staked claim to their votes but granted them little to no political representation. They also cautioned against certain practices of BJP governments and some outfits and religious leaders linked to the party, for the community to see and support the BJP for its welfarism.

Pasmanda, meaning "those who have fallen behind" in Persian, is a term given to backward and Dalit Muslims - the Muslim counterparts of the deprived Hindu castes like the Valmikis, dhobis and Koris. They include the Ansaris, Mansooris, Raeen, Qureshis, among others. According to BJP, about 40 million beneficiaries of various welfare schemes of the Centre and UP government are Pasmandas. About 70% of postholders and workers in the state's minority wing also belong to the same community, claims BJP UP minority wing president Basit Ali.

Some centrally run programmes like holding of 'Hunar Haats' to give a platform for artisans including Muslim weavers who also belong to the community, have been seen to particularly aim at their welfare, along with other 'labhaarthi' schemes of the Centre and state. These will continue to be BJP's primary vehicle of gaining their support in the run up to 2024 elections, party leaders said. Its allies in UP, like the Nishad Party, may also play a role in taking BJP's message to the community.

Political representation, like appointing Danish Azad Ansari as a minister of state in the UP government, with the chairmen of the state minority commission and madarsa board also being Pasmanda Muslims, has been another strategy of bridging the gap. In May, Ansari was called to attend an Eid Milan programme held by the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz where he addressed the attendees, talking about the works being done by the state government.