http://www.timeswireservice.com/news/Welfare_Party_of_India_is_not_Jamaat_e_Islami_Hind_party__PC_Hamza_1313406723/
PC Hamza 16 August, 2011
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PC Hamza is the Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind launched Welfare Party of India. He is a former President of Jamaat’s student wing Students Islamic Organization (SIO). Earlier he has been associated with several JIH projects including its earlier effort to launch a credible Muslim media in India in the form of Meantime, a fortnight magazine from Bangalore. That it failed, was another matter altogether. Here he talks in detail about the new political outfit that recently got recognition from Election Commission of India
By Syed Ubaidur Rahman (TimesWireService.Com)
USP of Welfare Party of India!
Socio political scene as a whole in India has sunk into selfishness and corruption. Politics has been a medium for doing noble work and exemplary service to the people, especially the deserved and marginalized. Political and social movements led by people with high ideals and noble characters got full support of the people; with complete faith in those leaders the people were ready to sacrifice everything. There is a complete U turn. Politics has become a tool to assert power and authority and amass wealth. There is less talk of accountability and responsibility. You see the debate nowadays is who else are to be excluded from investigation purview. There is widespread disenchantment among the public. They want change, a change based on values and accountability. The WELFARE PARTY is committed for value based politics. For the Party, political activity means a way to serve the society and service to the society is service to the Creator. The Party will bring an alternate political culture. This will be the USP of the Party.
Major concern of Welfare Party of India are Muslims. But there are already organizations like Indian Union Muslim League, Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen and AIUDF. Where is the slot left for you?
Welfare Party is not a Party for the Muslims by the Muslims, but a party for all. This distinctive differentiation from other parties that you have referred can be seen from the very name of the Party, its aims and objectives, concept ideology and the list of its national leadership.
At the same time, there are a few things to be taken care of. In India, almost all parties have their own separate social base and for some parties, it is solid. For the BSP, it is Dalits, SP its Yadav, BJP it is upper caste and urban Hindus. For the Left, you will see it is the SC, Backward class and so on. For the Congress, for many years, it has been the upper castes plus Muslims plus OBCs. What is observed nowadays is, by the strength of this solid social base, some parties have become too narrow, arrogant and sectarian minded to care for the concerns of others. In the name of social engineering or pluralism, alongwith their solid votes, these parties gather support from some secondary social groups and reach the corridors of power. Once they reach, they forget these vital secondary groups. The best example is Muslims. The Sachar Committee appointed by the Congress led UPA has exposed the pathetic situation of Muslims across the country.
Like Muslims, there are so many least empowered and least represented social groups belonging to different regions, religions, castes and ethnicities. We will form a platform for all these have-nots. The Party will be a voice for all the voiceless. It will never be a sectarian or a communal organization.
People wonder if it is Jamaat-e-Islami’s formal launch in electoral politics?
It is not a wing of the Jama’at.
As everybody knows , the Jama’at has been delivering its viewpoints regarding the political developments taking place in the country, but was not in election politics and its members were not exercising their franchise till they were permitted to do so in 1985. The leading and active role in mobilizing the minds of the public in general and the Muslims in particular in the general election to the Parliament held in 1977 during the emergency is part of history. The Jama’at has been advocating and campaigning for value based politics. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the Jama’at had been active in the field for preserving democratic values and communal harmony and was instrumental in mobilizing public opinion against the communal fascist forces alongwith the non-communal democratic forces. These are all known to everybody.
So when a new initiative to form a national level alternative political platform by a few rightly thinking persons, Jama’at extended its support and also contributed a few of its members to be associated with this party. The Party is and will be a plural one. You see out of 16 office bearers, four are from Jama’at background, four from other faiths.
Jama’at being a fringe organization among Muslims, association of WPI with it is definitely a minus point. What is your take?
The Welfare Party as I told earlier is not a Party of the Jama’at. There are Jama’at people associated with it and this association has been well taken by all, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Jama’at will be in a better position to clarify about the fringe tag that you attach with it. As far as I know even the critics of Jama’at-e-Islami Hind admit that it is the largest and the most well organized, having reach to almost all states of the nation. It is also an admitted fact that it is on the top of all Islamic organizations having more contacts with members, leaders and organizations of other faiths. With its reported wide network and committed cadres being visible with helping hands in hours of need and its service being delivered on humanitarian grounds and not communal or sectarian, the Jama’at is better respected. There may be disagreements and dissents, I admit.
Association with Jama’at a plus or minus point for your organization!
The Party has no formal association with Jama’at, I repeat. But the contacts, expertise and experiences of those associated with Party having Jama’at background is really a plus point to the organization.
So do you see your organization producing some results in a decade or two?
While the idea of a new political initiative in the form of a concept paper was taken to the people, the response was warm and encouraging as if the urge and idea was there in the mind of each. With the Party being launched at national level and efforts are being taken to establish at states, we get good response and result. People from all walks of life, caste and communities are joining the Party. Among them are political persons with vast experience; they are disheartened with the policy of their parent party. With no hope of taking it to the puritan position, they with lots of hope and enthusiasm do join the Welfare Party. We are of hopeful of making a forceful penetration in the political arena of the nation and making its presence felt within near future.
What are prospects of WPI in Kerala?
Kerala is, as you know, is one of the most politically volatile and conscious state. It is politically saturated also. So any political new initiative, superficially, seems to be risky. But the under currents tell something different. The Kerala politics is a march past between right and left. The change every five years is not by choice but by compulsion. There are a good number of people, institutions and organizations looking for alternative option.
People of all political parties are in annoyance with their leaders for nepotism, groupism and deviation from ideology and principle. Not a single major political party be it the CPM, Congress or the Muslim League is exception to this situation.
Communists lost in Malabar area despite your support. Do you have realistic idea about its success?
The Welfare Party was formed in April 2011. It is a post-election product. Hence there is no question of us supporting the Communists.
(Syed Ubaidur Rahman is the author of Understanding the Muslim Leadership in India)
PC Hamza 16 August, 2011
Share
PC Hamza is the Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind launched Welfare Party of India. He is a former President of Jamaat’s student wing Students Islamic Organization (SIO). Earlier he has been associated with several JIH projects including its earlier effort to launch a credible Muslim media in India in the form of Meantime, a fortnight magazine from Bangalore. That it failed, was another matter altogether. Here he talks in detail about the new political outfit that recently got recognition from Election Commission of India
By Syed Ubaidur Rahman (TimesWireService.Com)
USP of Welfare Party of India!
Socio political scene as a whole in India has sunk into selfishness and corruption. Politics has been a medium for doing noble work and exemplary service to the people, especially the deserved and marginalized. Political and social movements led by people with high ideals and noble characters got full support of the people; with complete faith in those leaders the people were ready to sacrifice everything. There is a complete U turn. Politics has become a tool to assert power and authority and amass wealth. There is less talk of accountability and responsibility. You see the debate nowadays is who else are to be excluded from investigation purview. There is widespread disenchantment among the public. They want change, a change based on values and accountability. The WELFARE PARTY is committed for value based politics. For the Party, political activity means a way to serve the society and service to the society is service to the Creator. The Party will bring an alternate political culture. This will be the USP of the Party.
Major concern of Welfare Party of India are Muslims. But there are already organizations like Indian Union Muslim League, Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen and AIUDF. Where is the slot left for you?
Welfare Party is not a Party for the Muslims by the Muslims, but a party for all. This distinctive differentiation from other parties that you have referred can be seen from the very name of the Party, its aims and objectives, concept ideology and the list of its national leadership.
At the same time, there are a few things to be taken care of. In India, almost all parties have their own separate social base and for some parties, it is solid. For the BSP, it is Dalits, SP its Yadav, BJP it is upper caste and urban Hindus. For the Left, you will see it is the SC, Backward class and so on. For the Congress, for many years, it has been the upper castes plus Muslims plus OBCs. What is observed nowadays is, by the strength of this solid social base, some parties have become too narrow, arrogant and sectarian minded to care for the concerns of others. In the name of social engineering or pluralism, alongwith their solid votes, these parties gather support from some secondary social groups and reach the corridors of power. Once they reach, they forget these vital secondary groups. The best example is Muslims. The Sachar Committee appointed by the Congress led UPA has exposed the pathetic situation of Muslims across the country.
Like Muslims, there are so many least empowered and least represented social groups belonging to different regions, religions, castes and ethnicities. We will form a platform for all these have-nots. The Party will be a voice for all the voiceless. It will never be a sectarian or a communal organization.
People wonder if it is Jamaat-e-Islami’s formal launch in electoral politics?
It is not a wing of the Jama’at.
As everybody knows , the Jama’at has been delivering its viewpoints regarding the political developments taking place in the country, but was not in election politics and its members were not exercising their franchise till they were permitted to do so in 1985. The leading and active role in mobilizing the minds of the public in general and the Muslims in particular in the general election to the Parliament held in 1977 during the emergency is part of history. The Jama’at has been advocating and campaigning for value based politics. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the Jama’at had been active in the field for preserving democratic values and communal harmony and was instrumental in mobilizing public opinion against the communal fascist forces alongwith the non-communal democratic forces. These are all known to everybody.
So when a new initiative to form a national level alternative political platform by a few rightly thinking persons, Jama’at extended its support and also contributed a few of its members to be associated with this party. The Party is and will be a plural one. You see out of 16 office bearers, four are from Jama’at background, four from other faiths.
Jama’at being a fringe organization among Muslims, association of WPI with it is definitely a minus point. What is your take?
The Welfare Party as I told earlier is not a Party of the Jama’at. There are Jama’at people associated with it and this association has been well taken by all, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Jama’at will be in a better position to clarify about the fringe tag that you attach with it. As far as I know even the critics of Jama’at-e-Islami Hind admit that it is the largest and the most well organized, having reach to almost all states of the nation. It is also an admitted fact that it is on the top of all Islamic organizations having more contacts with members, leaders and organizations of other faiths. With its reported wide network and committed cadres being visible with helping hands in hours of need and its service being delivered on humanitarian grounds and not communal or sectarian, the Jama’at is better respected. There may be disagreements and dissents, I admit.
Association with Jama’at a plus or minus point for your organization!
The Party has no formal association with Jama’at, I repeat. But the contacts, expertise and experiences of those associated with Party having Jama’at background is really a plus point to the organization.
So do you see your organization producing some results in a decade or two?
While the idea of a new political initiative in the form of a concept paper was taken to the people, the response was warm and encouraging as if the urge and idea was there in the mind of each. With the Party being launched at national level and efforts are being taken to establish at states, we get good response and result. People from all walks of life, caste and communities are joining the Party. Among them are political persons with vast experience; they are disheartened with the policy of their parent party. With no hope of taking it to the puritan position, they with lots of hope and enthusiasm do join the Welfare Party. We are of hopeful of making a forceful penetration in the political arena of the nation and making its presence felt within near future.
What are prospects of WPI in Kerala?
Kerala is, as you know, is one of the most politically volatile and conscious state. It is politically saturated also. So any political new initiative, superficially, seems to be risky. But the under currents tell something different. The Kerala politics is a march past between right and left. The change every five years is not by choice but by compulsion. There are a good number of people, institutions and organizations looking for alternative option.
People of all political parties are in annoyance with their leaders for nepotism, groupism and deviation from ideology and principle. Not a single major political party be it the CPM, Congress or the Muslim League is exception to this situation.
Communists lost in Malabar area despite your support. Do you have realistic idea about its success?
The Welfare Party was formed in April 2011. It is a post-election product. Hence there is no question of us supporting the Communists.
(Syed Ubaidur Rahman is the author of Understanding the Muslim Leadership in India)