Skip to main content

Modi trying to woo Pasmanda Muslims? They won’t join communal forces: Ali Anwar

By Dr Abhay Kumar* 

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to woo Pasmanda Muslims during the BJP workers' meeting in Bhopal, former Member of Parliament and leader of the Pasmanda Movement Ali Anwar has said that Pasmanda Muslims will not join the communal forces because secularism is in their DNA.
In an online interview with the writer, he called the nine-year rule of the Modi Government a failure, which has not given relief to the people, including Pasmanda Muslims.
Ali Anwar, the author of the widely acclaimed book "Masawat ki Jung" (2001), has questioned the sincerity of PM Modi: “The Prime Minister has now expressed concern about the conditions of Pasmanda Muslims, but why has he been silent about the suffering of Bilkis Bano, who is also a Pasmanda Muslim woman."
He has further said that the struggle of Pasmanda Muslims is not confined to securing reservation. Rather, the struggle is also being waged for dignity and security. That is why the Pasmanda Movement and communal politics cannot go together.
When asked to comment on the PM’s reference to the discrimination faced by Pasmanda Muslims at the hands of an elite section of their community, Ali Anwar has said that his real agenda is not to secure their welfare but to trigger internal fighting between the upper caste Ashraf Muslims and backward and Dalit Pasmanda Muslims as the BJP has earlier created a similar division between backward and extremely backward classes, Jatavs and non-Jatavs and Yadav versus non-Yadavs.
---
*PhD (Modern History), Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Comments

TRENDING

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Hoping against despair after Myanmar President’s visit to India

By Nava Thakuria  Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing’s five-day official visit to India from 30 May to 3 June 2026 drew attention both in New Delhi and in India’s northeastern region, where policymakers and residents closely follow developments in the neighbouring country. The visit was significant because it touched on several issues of mutual concern, including security cooperation, border management, connectivity projects, trade, and regional stability.

Beyond data: The economist who refused to remain in the ivory tower

By Vikas Meshram   There are few people who are born into privilege yet choose to dedicate their lives to the cause of the poor. Jean Drèze is one such individual. Born on January 22, 1959, in Leuven, Belgium, into the family of a distinguished economist, Drèze has become one of the most influential voices in the study of poverty, inequality, and social policy in India. Having lived in India since 1979, he adopted Indian citizenship in 2002 and has since played a pivotal role in shaping some of the country's most important welfare initiatives.