Two seats each have been earmarked for women and notified Muslim OBC representatives. This is the first time that seats have been reserved on the basis of caste in a Muslim body in the country.
Two seats each have been earmarked for women and notified Muslim OBC representatives. This is the first time that seats have been reserved on the basis of caste in a Muslim body in the country.
In what is likely to have far-reaching implications for leading Muslim organizations in the country, the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat has announced plans to reserve seats for the 25-member National Executive for women and representatives of the Pasmanda community. In addition, plans have been announced to have four members from southern states and one representative from Northeast India on the board.
Two seats each have been earmarked for women and notified Muslim OBC representatives. This is the first time that seats have been reserved on the basis of caste in a Muslim body in the country.
Incidentally, the Mushawarat is the umbrella body of 12 Muslim organizations including Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muslim League, Indian National League and Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith. Changes have been brought with selective amendments to the constitution of Musawarat. The amendments were brought about through a referendum which took place via postal ballot.
“The moment the amended constitution got the consent of the members, it was deemed to have been passed,” says AIMMM president Naved Hamid. Through the referendum, a little over 81% of the members voted in favor of reservation for women, while about 74% voted in favor of the Pasmanda reservation.
Unprecedented change comes with a cloud of uncertainty. Three major organisations, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, its student wing SIO and the Indian National League boycotted today’s deliberations. It was argued that Mr. Hamid is an Acting Speaker and, therefore, is not authorized to bring about far-reaching changes in the Constitution. He argued that Mr Hamid’s extended tenure as the chairman of the body ended in September this year. Therefore, the changes he has brought cannot come under legal scrutiny.
The participants in today’s deliberations included representatives of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Markazi Ahl-e-Hadith-e-Hind, All India Momin Conference, Jamiatul Quraysh and Association of Muslim Professionals, while others sent letters of support. were sent.
“His elected term ended on December 31, 2019. His grace period also ended on September 5, 2022. He is not authorized to amend the constitution. His plan to reserve seats for women and Pasmanda is unprecedented. In Mushawarat, we have never seen the caste of a person sitting in a seat,” says Zafarul Islam Khan, the former president of Mushawarat, “When I became the President in 2008, the first choice was Maulana Abdul Haq Ansari, who was the President of India. President of Jamaat-e-Islami. He was pasmanda. None of the members made any difference. However, the policy of the Jamaat was not to accept any presidency. So, he didn’t become the president of Mushawarat and I got a chance.
Mr. Khan argues that today Mushawarat is only a congregation of yes men, and Mr. Hamid is merely a caretaker until a new round of elections is held; Changes go against the letter and spirit of the body.
Mr Hamid argues that he has every right to remain in the seat until the election and that the changes are legally correct as they have been brought about through a referendum. “Those who were questioning the referendum also participated in it, though through negative voting. Why did he participate in the referendum? It means they have accepted the process.”