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Political strategist turned politician Prashant Kishor, known for his sharp strategies and outspoken statements in Indian political circles, has given a very big, sharp and ideological statement regarding the country’s largest and sensitive minority community i.e. Muslims. Prashant Kishor, the founder of Jan Suraj, while giving advice to the Muslim community of the country in an open forum and during media interviews, has bluntly said that now the time has come that Muslims should worry about their political stake, security and proper representation on their own, and not remain as stooges or one-sided vote bank of any political party. It has been a matter of discussion in the electoral politics of the country for decades that the minority community, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states, has been voting only to defeat or win a certain party, but in return they do not get real participation in governance and administration. This statement of Prashant Kishor has created an earthquake within the mainstream politics and the so-called secular parties which have been getting the votes of Muslims for a long time only by showing fear to them but have never done any concrete work for their upliftment and empowerment. After his statement, a debate has erupted among political analysts on whether the Muslim community will actually move out of traditional politics and move towards creating its own independent political identity or will the situation remain the same.
The truth about the use of Muslims by traditional political parties
If we delve deeply into the political history of the country since its independence, it becomes clear that almost every small and big political party has seen Muslims only as a ‘vote bank’ and has used them to climb the ladder of power. The so-called secular parties get one-sided votes from the Muslim voters by creating a sense of fear and insecurity at the time of elections, but when the government is formed, they are not given a share in the cabinet, ticket distribution, policy making and development schemes in the proportion that their population deserves. Prashant Kishore has made a sharp attack on this bitter truth and said that the Muslim community will now have to understand that no political party is sitting in politics to do good for them, rather every party is busy in earning its political bread. Unless the people of the community prepare their own ground and bring forward leadership that protects their interests, they will continue to be neglected and emotionally exploited. This argument of his has put in the dock all those political parties who have been claiming for years that they are the only true well-wishers and protectors of the minorities.
Why is there a strong need for political participation and self-reliance?
The biggest quality of any healthy democracy is that every class, caste and community of the society gets proper representation in running the governance according to its population and needs, so that their voice can directly reach the policy makers. Prashant Kishor clearly believes that unless the Muslims themselves organize their political power and develop the ability to exert pressure on their own, they will continue to get rights by begging which can never be permanent. This principle of self-reliance is not limited to economic matters only, but is equally applicable in the field of politics where until you stand on your own feet, others will continue to decide your destiny. Muslim youth and intelligentsia should now come out of the hangers-on culture of traditional political parties and focus on education, health, employment and entrepreneurship as well as building strong political leadership within their society. Only when every person in the society will understand the power of his vote and will choose right and wrong as per his discretion without any fear or pressure, it will be possible to establish real democracy.
This statement of Prashant Kishor has far-reaching effects on the country’s politics.
This outspoken and revolutionary statement given by Prashant Kishor is likely to have a far-reaching and deep impact on Indian politics in the times to come, because it directly challenges decades-old established beliefs. The political parties which were assuming that Muslim voters are always in their pocket and they will get votes unilaterally without doing anything, will now have to rethink their strategy. While on one hand some political parties are criticizing this statement and calling it divisive in the society, on the other hand a large section of intellectuals and youth are seeing it as a true and practical advice. Unless there is ideological churning and introspection in politics, the winds of change cannot blow and Prashant Kishor has placed his hand on the very place which most of the leaders shy away from touching. It will be very interesting to see in the coming assembly and other elections whether the Muslim community gets inspired by this call and brings any change in its traditional voting style or not, but it is certain that this statement has definitely opened the door to a new debate in the country’s politics.