Muslims will not be used as a vote bank, says AAP

BJP, Cong creating insecurity in minorities for political agenda

Media frenzy not helping Aam Aadmi Party: Shazia The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) may have created a major political upset in Delhi but the constant media buzz surrounding Arvind Kejriwal and his team doesn’t seem to be getting over any time soon. The party is back in media limelight once again. This time party MLA, Vinod Kumar Binny, has threatened to go on a hunger strike – accusing his own party of cheating people of Delhi. Shazia Ilmi, AAP spokesperson told Khaleej Times on Friday, “It has always been very ugly for us. From the very first day, we have been attacked. There is nothing new about it.” She supported remarks by her party colleagues in Delhi confirming disciplinary action is being considered against Binny. “We will remove him if needed. I don’t know when the decision will be taken.” Shazia called on the media to look into real issues and ignore Binny’s remarks saying the ‘disciplinary action’ could address his erratic behaviour. “If the media covers him (Binny), the issue will become individual-centric. I don’t think there is much for us to do. People can cover it and make the issue snowball into a larger one. We have given our answers.” AAP is not new to controversy and the party has been widely criticised for taking support from Congress. Stiff opposition from BJP is adding to the pressure and the party’s ability to deliver on promises has been questioned by the media. “I am not saying media has been harsh but there is too much attention being in the public eye. You have to work and perform. Everything can’t be done under the glare of cameras. If one is constantly battling these small matters in front of media, when will work be done?” said Shazia. “People’s expectations are very realistic. They are having a very tough time. I have myself gone to places where people are suffering because of electricity bills. Nobody has reached out to these people. There is very little serious introspection by the media.” She added, “It is a very big fight and we can’t lose ourselves in small talk. We have to go beyond egos.” muaz@khaleejtimes.com

For new entrant Aam Aadmi Party, reaching out to Muslim voters is crucial in the upcoming elections. The party has carefully distanced itself from communal politics but has made provisions for minorities in its manifesto.

Shazia Ilmi, the party’s spokesperson says: “We don’t want Muslims to be used as vote banks, which is what they have been used as. Muslims are gearing around the Aam Aadmi Party. They feel this party means what it says.”

Shazia is currently visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai on the invitation of the UAE chapter of Jamia Millia Islamia alumni.

In an interview with Khaleej Times, Shazia hinted the party would reach out to Muslims but stay away from fear mongering and politics of hatred. “There is a phobia created where a party presents itself as a saviour and protector of the minority. The Congress uses RSS and Modi to create this effect. It is very sad and Muslims don’t want to be supplicants. They want to be normal citizens who can take care of themselves.”

She lashed out at BJP and Congress for creating insecurity in minorities and then using it to push their own political agenda through vote bank politics. “We want to talk about the communalism of every party and ask them why Muslims have been singled out as a vote bank for one party — mostly by Congress. Even for the BJP, they have vilified and treated someone as others. One has to go beyond identity politics.”

Shazia called on minorities to vote for the right candidate and not base their decision on religious factors. “I might have a Muslim candidate and I might be a Muslim but I have to ask if the Muslim candidate will do anything for me. Or will somebody like Yogendra Yadav or Prashant Bhushan do something better? Real issues should be talked about and it should not be individual-centric.”

Asked about the Aam Aadmi Party’s choice of PM candidate, Shazia said a decision had not been taken yet and a name could be announced by the end of this month.

“We have a national council meet coming up on 30^th January. People would want Arvind Kejriwal (as PM) but we haven’t had a discussion on that at all. Arvind himself does not want to contest the Lok Sabha electionsbut the party will take a decision on that soon.”

A cloud of uncertainty looms over the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India and no single party seems to have a clear upper hand yet. Congress’s decision to rule out Rahul Gandhi as a potential prime ministerial candidate comes at an important time as the party faces its biggest test in recent years. muaz@khaleejtimes.com