Azam Khan can't be PM (and it's not because he's a Muslim)
UP politician and SP leader Azam Khan said last week that though he would like to be prime minister, it's not possible as he is a Muslim. "I have all the qualities of being the prime minister, I have experience and education," he said. "Barring the fact that I am a Muslim, there is no other shortcoming," he added.
Khan is right that he's unlikely to ever become prime minister - this is not because he is Muslim, but because he has in the past betrayed a propensity to making statements unbecoming of any leader, forget the PM. The latest being his controversial comments on the Bulandshahar rape case as a conspiracy against the Uttar Pradesh government.
Then, his party's politics and his role in them is so legendary, it has prompted author and historian Ramachandra Guha to say that BJP chief Amit Shah and SP leader Azam Khan are "the most dangerous politicians in the country".
Also, this is a man who used his power to send state police on a hunt for his personal missing buffaloes. There are many problems with this episode that reveal a great deal about Azam Khan, not in a flattering way - and one of them is that a man who can't manage his herd of buffaloes can't preside over a nation.
However, there are other merits to Khan's arguments, provided you remove him personally from the equation (some reasons provided above). He is right that even decades after Independence, Muslims do not have political currency - and this does not mean it is their fault.
Parties, while claiming to represent Muslims, are accused of seeing the largest minority in India as a vote bank. In the process, they have also not allowed many Muslim politicians to come up. It is clear if you look at the low number of Muslims among elected representatives, even in areas where there are many Muslims.
India did have a Sikh PM credited with the liberalisation policies. We have also had a woman PM who was known in her time "as the only man in her Cabinet". There is no reason why we should not have a Muslim PM.
Here is a list of those who could be strong contenders:
1. Ghulam Nabi Azad
Age: 67
Party: Indian National Congress
The current leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha comes with some heavy-duty credentials. He has served as minister of health and family welfare in the Manmohan Singh government and has led the Congress to victories in states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Pros:
Due to his experience and success, political watchers consider him as one of the few politicians who actually knows India better than most. The veteran Congress leader has an ability to gauge what's on the ground, as well as an ability to stay grounded, unlike many politicians from J&K who have a tendency to fly off the handle.
Unlike today's trend of emerging fly-by-night leaders, he is known as an old-school leader having established his reputation slowly and steadily through his work.
Cons:
Despite his serious credentials and track record that put his name along with P Chidambaram as a probable PM candidate, should the Congress look outside of dynasty, it is the party cadres’ rumoured unwillingness to accept anyone other than a Gandhi family member as the leader that comes in Azad's way. Also, at 67, he may be getting old - not that age is an obstacle for high office in India.
2. Omar Abdullah
Age: 46
Party: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference
The man who became the youngest chief minister of J&K after forming a coalition with the Congress in 2009 and served in the Vajpayee government as minister of state for external affairs is a "dynasty" politician who has nevertheless charted out his own style of politics despite having inherited the mantle from Farooq Abdullah. While the older Abdullah is flamboyant and sensational, Omar is more grounded.
Pros:
Abdullah, who has a strong presence on social media sites like Twitter, is seen as a youth icon and can pull and consolidate youth votes. He has a reputation for being measured and speaking sensibly, even when out of power.
Cons:
Despite his stint as a minister serving in government at the Centre, he is seen as a regional leader.
3. Asaduddin Owaisi
Age: 47
Party: AIMIM
The three-time MP representing Hyderabad is an outspoken champion of Muslim rights and empowerment as a leader of a party whose presidentship he inherited from his father, and before him, his grandfather. Owaisi has been honoured with Sansad Ratna Award for best overall performance in the 15th Lok Sabha.
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| The three-time MP representing Hyderabad is an outspoken champion of Muslim rights. (Photo: PTI) |
A barrister-at-law from England and a convincing orator, he is unafraid to take on the right-wing RSS, standing up to their calls for making "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" a national chant, despite a section of Congress supporting the slogan.
Facing the accusation of "identity politics", Owaisi maintains he stands for the unity of Muslims and their representation as a political force, which he views as a right kept away from them by political parties.
Pros:
In an era of BJP rule, Owaisi has risen to prominence as the foil, and justifiably so; if "Hindu nationalist" Modi can rule the country, then why can't an equally patriotic Muslim leader, a "Muslim nationalist" be PM one day?
Cons:
Despite being a strong voice in Parliament, and despite attempts to extend his party’s influence by contesting in states like Mumbai, Bihar and the upcoming UP elections, Owaisi remains a Hyderabad MP and politician.
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Two of the three names in the list are dynasty politicians – but this is not a negative, given the political scenario in India where across parties, especially Congress, there are a high number of dynasty politicians in top jobs.
There are no women in the list, but again this is not exceptional. Successful women politicians including former PM Indira Gandhi had the added advantage of dynasty. Najma Heptullah could have been a contender having had a long political career straddling both Congress and BJP, but is seen as being unable to strike out of the stereotype of "token" Muslim representative.
Mehbooba Mufti, despite being in control presently as chief minister of J&K in what many would call a difficult situation, is also confined to being a regional leader.