Mehooz Alam/Patna 

Dr. Ejaz Ali, National President of All India United Muslim Morcha and former MP says that the Dalit and backward Muslim communities are supporting the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Dr Ali said that about 60 to 70 percent of the Muslim population belongs to the backward class. "It's the community of the poorest people who are engaged in petty jobs for livelihood. Their educational, social, and economic condition is very poor."

He says this community has been instrumental in the election of many leaders who have been voted to power, yet the elected leaders espousing 'secularism' and their parties have not heeded the cries of the community and never fulfilled their demands.

That is why the backward and Dalit Muslim community sees a strong leadership in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hopes that the NDA government will fulfill our long-standing demands.

As the campaigning for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections ended on Wednesday, the AIUMF has extended support to the NDA candidates and asked the community members to vote for the alliance candidates. 

Dr. EjazAli, who is in charge of the campaign at the national level said, "We are trying to create an environment in favour of NDA in all the Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar."

Dr Ejaz Ali with women

The AIUMF chief says, "I tell Muslims who are opposing the NDA to at least vote for the constituents of the NDA alliance if not BJP."

Dr. Ejaz Ali, says, "I want Narendra Modi's government to be like that of Atal Bihari Vajpayee when regional parties were important constituents of the regime and no single party had a majority." He says the first UPA government was good and it worked for people, but in its second term, the UPA government made arbitrary decisions because it enjoyed a majority in the Lok Sabha. 

Dr Ejaz Ali says that Muslims should understand the principle that a minority should always stand with the government to get an advantage. "If a minority picks conflict with the government, it has to be prepared to bear the brunt of it. 

Dr. Ejaz Ali says whenever Muslims were with the government, the community had to suffer less. However, in the last 10 years, a conflict has been created and has caused a lot of damage to the people.

According to Dr. Ejaz Ali, the AIUMM has been telling Muslims that it is not right for the minority population to live in conflict with the government. 

Dr Ejaz claimed that the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will favour the NDA and Narendra Modi will be sworn in as Prime Minister. In such a situation, Muslims should avoid aggressive voting against the alliance. 

The National President of All India United Muslim Morcha says that supporting Nitish Kumar's party, Jitan Ram Majhi, Chirag Paswan, and Upinder Kushwaha along with BJP in Bihar is the need of the hour.

He says that it is easy for the community to fall for the falsehood of the parties that espoused the cause of 'secularism' but never did anything for Muslims. He asked Muslims why they wanted to get into conflict with the winning side and the government by voting aggressively against the NDA.

He said that the backward and Dalit Muslims have been befooled by the 'secular' parties in the past. "This weak section of Muslims now feels that we will not be fooled and talk about our welfare and our development." 

Dr Ejaz with a Dalit Muslim family

According to Ejaz Ali, Muslims' share of seats in Parliament should not bother them. "In the past Muslims have been given tickets (to contest elections), but after winning, they toe the line of their party and shy away from identifying with Muslims. Muslim leaders are loyal to their party and not interested in solving Muslim problems."

 Given this, it's least important how many Muslims are given tickets to contest or are elected." He says, that in Bihar, the Morcha is supporting the Mujahid Alam of the JDU, who is contesting from Kishanganj.

For the past 25 years, the AIUMM has been asking for the inclusion of Dalit Muslims in the Scheduled Caste list. This can be done by a simple amendment in the Article 341 of the Constitution. Besides, the government can also include Muslims in the Prevention of Atrocities Act. A delegation of Morcha has met several Prime Ministers on these issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about the backward Muslims and shown an inclination to solve their problems. 

Dr. Ejaz Ali says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established himself as a strong leader. He said that in the last ten years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proved himself a strong national and international leader. 

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In this situation, it is wiser for the community to follow the thumb rule that a minority should always work with the government.