A new dimension in Muslim politics in Sri Lanka
Suppose what would the fate of Singapore or India, if people of those countries begin to think in this communal line? India would be divided into many countries. Singapore would have been one more poor country in Asia.
by A Special Correspondent
( August 7, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Dr Ameer Ali in his article argues that Muslim congress and its offshoots of Muslim political parties should be dismantled in Sri Lanka for good. It is a contentious political issue. Dr Ameer Ali can put his rational arguments for his claim to dismantle small Muslim political parties. Yet, will Muslim politicians listen to him at all? Is it possible to dismantle them all at one go?
I too agree with him that Muslim political parties have done more harm to Muslim community in Sri Lanka than more good. It is my humble opinion that Muslim congress or any other Muslim political parties should function in N& E of Sri Lanka. They could either work independently as Muslim political parties in N& E or otherwise, they could work hand in hand with some other Tamil political parties to develop the entire regions of N& E. I do not think any separate Muslim political party is viable in other part of Sri Lanka at all. It is a disaster for the future of Muslim community outside N& E. One could argue if Thondaman can have his own political party with less than one million voters why cannot Muslims have their own political parties outside of North and East. I think that Upcountry Tamils are mostly concentrated in Nuwara Eliya district, his party could do better in that district and yet, Muslims in outside N& E are scattered in all districts. Percentage of Muslim population is less than 10 % in each district outside N& E. it would be unwise and unviable for Muslims to create their own political parties on their own. It would be like a political suicidal for Muslim community to support any Muslim political party outside N&E.
We could examine this issue from another perspective. What are the achievements of Muslim congress outside N&E? What did they offer for Muslims outside N&E? I’m very sorry to say that Rauff Hakeem and Rishard Badi have done very little for Muslims outside North and East? So, what is the point in supporting all these pity political parties in Sri Lanka? This does not mean that they should not operate in N&E. They should in that areas but not in outside N&E. consider for instance, what would be the result of this general in Ampara district this time for Muslims? I think that completion between Rauf Hakeem and Rishard Badi in Ampara is a political waterloo for both parties. It competition could reduce Muslim representation into less than three. So, where is the political wisdom of these two so called leaders of Muslim community?
For the last 25 years, Muslim of North have been languishing in displaced camps and yet, these so called Muslim political parties have done nothing to help these people. I would argue if we did not have communal parties like these, Muslim MPs in UNP and SLFP would have done something for these Muslim people. This is hypothetical question and yet, they could have done something more than this pathetic condition of displaced Muslims. In the same way, Muslims have been facing many challenges in recent time from BBS but these Muslim parties could not do anything to stop BBS and its aggression. So, what is the point in having all these Muslim political parties?
Muslim political party members may have gained some political mileage with their own party and yet, Muslim public have attained nothing from these parties. As Dr Ameer Ali noted in his article Muslim public have many burning issues and problems but these Muslim parties have done nothing to help Muslim public except they use their parties to get some personal benefits for them, their families and friends. Moreover, Muslim MPs of UNP and SLFP have done some great service to Muslim community in Sri Lanka than these people in Muslim congress and other Muslim political parties. You do not need to name them and it is well known to everyone.
Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic and religious country. In this country communal politics would not work. Rather political leaders should be national political leaders. Elected member of any MP from any community should be a national politician rather than a communal politician. Yet, Elected Tamil MP has always been a member of Tamil communal MP to serve only for his community. In the same way, elected Member of Muslim MP from Muslim congress has been working only for Muslim community alone. This can apply to some Sinhalese MPs as well. This communal politics would not work for Sri Lanka in a long run. It would be dangerous trend for national unity and integrity of this nation. In the past, some politicians did not think like this in communal lines rather they worked on national level without any communal limitations. For instance, consider late R. Premadasa, JR, SRIMA.B all were committed to work on national interest beyond communal interests and limitations. Take for instance, ACS Hameed, Abu Sally, and MH Mohamed all were elected with the majority of Sinhalese votes. They worked in the greater national interests beyond communal limitations. Today, some Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese are trying to do communal politics. This communalization of politics in Sri Lanka is very dangerous for Sri Lanka. Yet, unfortunately, politicians and community leaders do not envisage the risk of this political trend. This trend has been increasing in Sri Lanka since independence.
Suppose what would the fate of Singapore or India, if people of those countries begin to think in this communal line? India would be divided into many countries. Singapore would have been one more poor country in Asia.
Take role of model of President Abul Kalam. He is regarded as a national leader of India. Indian Hindus, Christian, Muslims, Sheikhs, and all other ethnic groups in India regarded him as national leader. Why is that? It is simply because, the President Abul Kalam worked in the national interest of all Indians beyond the limited communal interests. Do we have such a leader among Sri Lankans today? A leader who can win the hearts and minds of all communities in Sri Lanka? It is pathetic, We Sri Lankan greatly failed to create a Lankan identity among all three communities. When Sri Lankan cricket team plays cricket we see only a handful of Tamil youths support Sri Lankan team. Why is this different attitude towards our national team? It is because some of them have not yet, considered Sri Lanka cricket team as a national team for all communities?
Our national flag, national anthem, national geography, and national outlook are not profoundly rooted in the minds and hearts of all communities. No doubt some extreme Sinhalese have been trying to marginalise minority communities. They have indeed, tried to isolate minorities from the main stream politics and interaction into national life in Sri Lanka. I do not blame any community for this pathetic political conditions in Sri Lanka. Something went terribly wrong in Sri Lankan politics. It is high time to mend this political blunders. Today in this modern world, there is no place for internal fighting among communities. Today, peace, cooperation, communal unity and co-existence are future trajectories for development and progress. Otherwise, this beautiful nation (May God forbid) will descend into blood bath and follow the path of destruction.
In this context, all minority political parties should reconsider their political stands and political philosophies in light of national interest not merely on communal interest. They should think what we have given to Sri Lanka before they think what to take from Sri Lanka. We have always been fighting for our rights in Sri Lanka but we have failed to know what we owe to this nation? What types of duties and responsibilities we have towards this nation?
