Muslim League shuts its door to women

By K. P. M. Basheer

KOCHI, APRIL 7. The Indian Union Muslim League, the second- largest party in the UDF coalition, is the only mainline party in the State that has denied tickets to women in the Assembly election. Of the 23 seats allotted to it by the UDF, the Muslim League could not spare a single seat for a woman.

The party, never known for a women-friendly approach, had in 1996 thrown a surprise by fielding Ms. Khamarunnisa Anvar from Kozhikode-II. (She lost the poll, of course.) This had created an impression that the party was changing its policy of not promoting women in politics and it was expected that women's share would go steadily in the coming elections. Belying this hope, the party has this time round closed its doors on women, thus saying no to women's empowerment in the Muslim community. Instead of more number of Khamarunnisa Anvars expected in 2001, there is not a single one.

There is only one Muslim woman standing for the Assembly election this time--Ms. K.K. Sajitha in Aluva, who has been fielded by the CPI(M). However, her opponent is Mr. K. Mohammedali who is seeking to return to the Assembly for the sixth time.

The Muslim women constitute roughly 12 per cent of the total population of the State. In this age of clamour for proportional representation by castes and sub-castes, Muslim women alone could have demanded at least 17 seats. But all the political parties which are vying for slots in the Assembly could together field just one Muslim woman.

The Muslim League, majority of whose voters are Muslim women, and which claims to represent the Muslim community, has often been blamed for the political marginalisation of Muslim women. Had it set the precedent by giving opportunities to women, it is contended, other parties would have followed it up. Since the League is not just a political party, but a movement legitimately interested in the welfare of the backward community, it had

an added responsibility of uplifting the women in the community. But not only has the party consistently displayed a reluctance to shoulder this responsibility, but it has also discouraged women from entering political and social domains.

The League, which opposes one-third reservation for women in the Assemblies and Parliament, had, however, fielded women in the panchayat election because of the constitutional requirement of 30 per cent reservation.

Not that the presence of a few Muslim women in the candidates' list would change the sad plight of the much suffering Muslim women overnight. But, a couple of MLAs from among them would have

boosted the morale of the Muslim women and inspired more and more to venture into public life. The winning of the first rank in the 1999 SSLC examination by a Muslim girl had created a lot of euphoria and inspired many Muslim girls to put in their best.

Strangely, the denial of Assembly tickets to Muslim women takes place in the backdrop of a rising number of them getting educated and proving, though in a limited sphere, their worth. One clear evidence of their increasing assertiveness is the fact that in the Muslim-majority Malappuram district, the birth rate has gone down drastically.

But forces hostile to their assertiveness and independence have also become strong. The spread of the purdah is a clear signal of this. The so-called `ulemas' have in the recent times openly questioned the wisdom of fielding women in election. The Muslim League's total exclusion of women could be reflection of these Kozhikode-based ulemas' diktats.

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