West Bengal elections: Has Abbas Siddiqui made Mamata Banerjee sleepless?

Posted on 5th Apr 2021 by rohit kumar

The Pir, which the locals call Dada Huzur, was a Sufi saint of the 19th century. He did many things for education and social reform.

 

Dada Huzoor i.e. Abu Bakr Siddiqui built many orphanages, madrasas, and many health centers. Dura is the tomb of Hazur in Furfura Sharif. Furfura Sharif is in Hooghly district, 44 km from Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.

 

At this tomb, a large number of Muslims from Howrah, South 24-Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Dinjapur districts come to pray. Muslims from Assam and Bangladesh also come here. There are 90 assembly constituencies in this area, where the number of Muslims is more than 27 percent.

 

In the earlier elections in West Bengal, the leaders of Furfura Sharif used to come and meet the Pirzadaas and pray at the tomb of Pir Hazrat. But this year Furfura Sharif is in discussion for another reason. For the first time, a Pirzada is contesting the election.

 

35-year-old Abbas Siddiqui, grandfather of grandfather Hazur, formed a party called the Indian Secular Front (ISF). Soon after the formation of this party, the Left Front embraced him. The Congress and the Left Front had already allied, but the ISF also came into it. Just 300 meters from the tomb is Abbas Siddiqui's house. This is where his family lives.

 

How did Abbas Siddiqui come to the center of politics?

 

Abbas Siddiqui has suddenly come to the center of political discussion in West Bengal. The mausoleum and mosque in Furfura Sharif are nearby. This mosque is medieval.

 

After waiting for an hour, Siddiqui came out of the house. About six feet Siddiqui was in a kurta-pajama and there was a cap on his head. Abbas Siddiqui was called by the Left Front at a rally on February 28 at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. The rally was unexpectedly crowded and Abbas Siddiqui is said to have an important role in it.

 

Before coming to the Left Front, Siddiqui was talking to Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen i.e. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Both also went to each other's house. Since then, Abbas had come into further discussion.

 

Abbas Siddiqui's speech at the Brigade Parade Ground was in the news. He said that Mamata Banerjee is a B team of BJP and it is very important to oust her from power. It is constantly being said from the Congress and the Left Front that the ISF will carry Dalits and Adivasis as well. Because of this, the President of ISF, Simal Soren has been appointed. Soren is a tribal.

 

Why was it not with Owaisi?

 

Why didn't Abbas Siddiqui talk with Owaisi? Owaisi asked the BBC to ask this question to Abbas, as he had tried his best.

 

Siddiqui says, "For us, no party is untouchable except BJP. We had talked to TMC earlier and demanded 44 seats. He was refused. Then the Left Front agreed to give 30 seats, then we accepted it. We also talked to Owaisi sir. Everything was going well But there were some problems. It seemed to us that the equation should not get disturbed. We had asked some questions to Asad Saheb, but no answer had come from him.

 

Abbas Siddiqui has given very aggressive speeches in many Islamic waters in the past. He once also made objectionable remarks on TMC MP Nusrat Jahan and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim. He even verbally attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for wearing her hijab and said that Mamata Banerjee is fooling Muslims by doing so.

 

Abbas Siddiqui feels that mainstream parties are doing politics in the name of secularism only through symbols while not taking any concrete steps at the policy level. Siddiqui says that wearing Mamta Banerjee's hijab will not help the Muslims, but they will have to focus on school, college, health, and other basic things.

 

Why does Abbas Siddiqui hate Nussrat Jahan so much? Siddiqui says, "If someone messes with the lives of millions, then what will be said for him." He should have voted against the CAA and NRC in the Lok Sabha. He is an MP and he had this responsibility. When there is sadness in the heart, the voice becomes a little bitter. Shouldn't have said that. Should have said something a little softer. But one should not play with one's life. ''

 

Regarding Mamata's hijab and Kolkata Mayor Bobby Hakim's Durga Puja celebrations, Abbas Siddiqui says, "The wrong should be dared to call it wrong." You do not need to put a cap or hijab on your head to meet me. This will not increase the honor of Islam. This is not the rule. To offer prayers in the mosque, it is necessary to keep clothes on the head. But if you do all this at the time of the election, then it looks like drama. This is an insult to Islam. Keep away from religion from politics. Don't mix it up. ''

 

'No drama required'

 

Abbas Siddiqui says, "I am a Muslim." I never go to the temple But I am not even against the temple. It is a secular republic. Everyone has the right to practice their religion. But the right has not asked to include the drama. At the time of the election, when I go to the temple and start burning coconuts, showing incense and incense sticks, then it was to use the religion for the benefit and not because it increased the prestige of Hinduism. My drama is not needed to increase the prestige of Hinduism. ''

 

Siddiqui says that the mayor should do his work. He says, "If you go out at night on the road of Kolkata, then thousands of homeless Hindus will meet." The road itself is home for them. Going to the temple is not to honor the Hindus, but it is a drama. The mayor should make arrangements for homeless Hindus, not to pretend to have Durga Puja.

 

Abdul Matin, Professor of Social Sciences at Jadavpur University, has researched Furfura Sharif. Will Abbas Siddiqui form a party in this election will harm Mamata Banerjee?

 

In response to this question, Professor Matin said, "Furfura Sharif has a strong connection with the rural areas of Bengal. This will harm the Trinamool Congress. Furfura Sharif is very inclusive. Hindus also go here. Abbas Siddiqui's old speeches are offensive and anti-women. His statement about Nusrat was completely wrong, but I agree with everything he said about Hakim and Mamta. At the time of elections, these temples go to the mosque and do drama only. ''

 

Accusations on Mamta

 

Professor Martin says, "Mamta Banerjee's contribution is to spoil the communal atmosphere of Bengal. They have appeased the Muslims. Imamkhata, reading of Kalma, and applying hijab has proved to be an impetus for communal politics. In the last two four years, communalism in Bengal politics has increased. To gain power, TMC put forward the debate that if Muslims do not vote for them, then BJP will come to power. TMC is trying to get the votes of Muslims on the same logic as the rest of the alleged secular parties. ''

 

Professor Martin says, "It suits TMC that there is fear of BJP among Muslims and it suits BJP that there is fear of Muslims among Hindus." Both parties are trying to take the election of Bengal on this line. TMC did not give as many Muslims as tickets in the 2016 election. The politics of TMC is now exposed. Mamta is doing politics of majoritarianism only. She is trying to compete with BJP in the same manner. The CPM and Congress front now is a setback for TMC and BJP's binary politics. ''

 

Professor Matin feels that religious polarization in the politics of West Bengal had started in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections itself and this time it can be seen as well. Abbas Siddiqui also believes that Mamata Banerjee does the politics of Muslim appeasement and this is encouraging polarization. However, TMC leader Saugata Roy says that reciting Mamata and doing Lailah is an example of secularism.

 

Abbas Siddiqui says that for Muharram, Mamta does not have to do Durga Puja. He says, "A secular leader will be the one who does both Muharram and Durga Puja together rather than forcing one to shut down the other." This politics of Mamta has given a boost to the politics of polarization. No Muslim had demanded to disrupt Durga Puja. But Mamta did this to make the Muslims happy. They should know that the Muslim will not be happy by interrupting Durga Puja, but there will be something concrete for him, then he will get happiness. I believe that Mamta has appeased the Muslims. There was no complaint about Durga Puja and Muharram in anyone else's government, but why did Mamta Raj have a problem? ''