SDPI President Accuses Congress of Dividing Muslim Leadership in Karnataka
In a sharp critique of the Congress party, Abdul Majeed Mysuru, the state president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), has leveled serious allegations of divisive tactics aimed at Muslim leadership within Karnataka. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Majeed asserted that the Congress is deliberately targeting only Muslim leaders on charges of indiscipline, a move he claims is part of a broader strategy to fragment Muslim political influence.
Allegations of Selective Discipline
Majeed pointed to the recent case of senior Congress functionary Naseer Ahmed, who was relieved of his duties as political secretary over allegations of anti-party activities during the byelection in the Davanagere South constituency. "Do they find only Muslim leaders to take disciplinary action?" Majeed questioned, highlighting what he perceives as a pattern of bias.
He elaborated by citing several past instances where, according to him, the Congress failed to act against other party members. "Minister Byrathi Suresh contested as an independent candidate; Congress MLAs cross-voted; Late Shamanoor Shivashankarappa gave an open call in favour of BJP candidate BY Raghavendra during the election in Shivamogga; and BJP leaders openly claimed that 14 Congress MLAs were sent to the BJP back in 2018 by Siddaramaiah himself. However, the Congress neither conducted an inquiry nor took disciplinary action," Majeed stated, emphasizing the inconsistency in the party's approach.
Context of Davanagere South Constituency
The Davanagere South constituency holds significant demographic weight, with nearly 70% of votes coming from the Ahinda community, which includes approximately 85,000 Muslim voters and nearly 7,000 Christian voters. Majeed noted that there was a strong demand from people, including Muslims and minority leaders, for the Congress to field a Muslim candidate in this area. However, the Congress did not heed this demand, leading to what Majeed describes as widespread opposition and an anti-Congress wave in favour of the SDPI.
He accused the Congress of following a "divide and rule" policy when it comes to Muslim leadership, suggesting that this strategy is aimed at weakening unified political representation. Majeed warned that the people of Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson in the 2028 elections, indicating growing discontent among minority communities.
Refutation of Funding Allegations
In addition to the disciplinary issues, Majeed also addressed allegations that minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan has been funding the SDPI. He firmly refuted these claims, questioning, "Why should a leader of another party fund the SDPI?" This statement was made to dismiss any suggestions of financial impropriety or external influence on the SDPI's activities.
The accusations come at a time of heightened political tension in Karnataka, with parties vying for support ahead of future elections. Majeed's comments underscore the ongoing debates around representation, discipline, and strategy within the state's political landscape, particularly concerning minority communities.
