Security
with development remains the clear concern of Muslim in Uttar Pradesh at the
time of taking decision to vote for any particular party in the upcoming
Assembly Election 2017. Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have
been their preferable alternative choices for the last four assembly elections
in the state. However, these two parties haven’t so far satisfied the Muslim in
respect to their concern about safety with development. Muslims have rotated their
choices towards SP and BSP in hope to resolve their concern.
BSP
led by Mayawati was of course successful in ensuring security to all by
maintaining the law and order and keeping the state free from communal violence
during her regime (2007-2012). But she was not able to show any notable
achievement for the welfare of Muslims except some extension of central
government schemes in education. While Akhilesh government (2012-2017) has
increased the budget for welfare of minorities manifold in comparison to the
BSP government, but his tenure is full of incidents of communal violence that
have created the sense of insecurity among Muslims.
Spending
of the state government for welfare of Muslims was higher during the SP
government. It allocated 3056 crore rupees in current state budget of 2016-2017
for the welfare of minorities. It was merely Rs 1144 crore during the last
budget of Mayawati government in year 2011-2012. The SP government has also
initiated many schemes specially for the welfare of Muslims like boundaries of
graveyards, Muslim girl marriage, Jauhar University, IAS coaching centre, Hajj
house in Ghaziabad and also specification of Muslim share in other welfare
schemes.
|
Budget
Allocation for Welfare of Minorities in Uttar Pradesh
|
|||
|
Year
|
Rs.
in Crore
|
Growth
%
|
Ruling
Party
|
|
2010-2011
|
1042
|
BSP
|
|
|
2011-2012
|
1144
|
9.70
|
BSP
|
|
2012-2013
|
2074
|
81.36
|
SP
|
|
2013-2014
|
2687
|
29.54
|
SP
|
|
2014-2015
|
2695
|
0.30
|
SP
|
|
2015-2016
|
2776
|
2.99
|
SP
|
|
2016-2017
|
3056
|
10.10
|
SP
|
|
Source:
State Budget Documents
|
|||
Mayawati
was successful in curbing the communal incidences and no major outbreak of
violence was reported during her government. During the five years of her
government tenure 2007-2012, total communal incidences were 268 which took 60
lives and injured 873 persons. But the Akhilesh-led SP government failed to
curb the communal violence. During the four years of his ruling period
2012-2015, communal incidences sharply increased to a total of 637 taking 152
lives and injuring 1458 persons. Famous Dadri incidence ad communal violence in
Muzaffarnagar occurred during the Akhilesh government.
|
Number
of Communal Incidents, Persons Killed and Injured in Uttar Pradesh 2007-2015
|
|||
|
Year
|
Incident
|
Killed
|
Injured
|
|
2007
|
138
|
37
|
397
|
|
2008
|
114
|
18
|
408
|
|
2009
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
|
2010
|
8
|
0
|
24
|
|
2011
|
4
|
5
|
44
|
|
2007-2011
|
268
|
60
|
873
|
|
2012
|
118
|
39
|
500
|
|
2013
|
247
|
77
|
360
|
|
2014
|
133
|
26
|
374
|
|
2015
(upto Oct.)
|
139
|
10
|
224
|
|
2012-2015
|
637
|
152
|
1458
|
|
Source:
M/O Home Affairs
|
|||
In the
ongoing election campaign, Mayawati is seeking Muslim votes by showing the fear
card of communal violence but without giving any clear roadmap of her plan to
the welfare of Muslims. On the other hand, SP is highlighting its developmental
achievements of boundaries around graveyards, Hajj house, scholarships etc but
in fact the Akhilesh government has also failed to fulfil the majority of
promises made in the 2012 election manifesto like reservation for Muslims,
implementation of Sachar and Mishra committee reports, special provision for
recruitment of Muslims in security forces etc.
Muslims
like other fellow communities in Uttar Pradesh have the equal right to ask for
their share in development with the assurance of their security – and it should
be the responsibility of all parties, specifically those they have voted to.
Without an ideal combination of safety with development, this election also
comes with similar confusion among Muslim voters.
Published on 28.01.2017 at Indiatomorrow.Net
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