13 August 2024: At the Muslim Leadership Summit 2024, held over the weekend in Mumbai and hosted by the Muslim Welfare Association (MWA), a resolution was passed to establish a nationwide committee aimed at increasing the political representation of Muslims across India. The committee will be spearheaded by the internationally-renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Khalil-ur-Rahman Sajjad Nomani, a key figure of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, alongside veteran Islamic scholar Tauqeer Raza Khan, reports Deccan Herald.
MWA founder and seasoned social worker-politician Saleem Sarang will serve as the convenor of the committee. Sarang announced that the full composition of the committee would soon be revealed, and it would embark on a comprehensive study to devise strategies for enhancing Muslim representation in various political and governance bodies, including the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state assemblies, local self-governments, zilla parishads, panchayat samitis, gram panchayats, and other public institutions.
Sarang emphasized that the committee’s mission would be to travel across the country, engaging with MPs, MLAs, MLCs, religious scholars, intellectuals, educators, and students to build a unified effort. The ultimate goal is to secure political reservations and advocate for the rights and demands of the Muslim community, ensuring that their political representation is proportional to their population.
The summit was marked by the presence of key political figures, including three Rajya Sabha MPs – Javed Ali Khan (Samajwadi Party), Muizullah Khan (Samajwadi Party), and Zia Ur Rehman Barq (Biju Janata Dal) – as well as several MLAs from various political parties. Other notable attendees included Iqbal Memon Officer, President of All India Memon Jamaat, and representatives from various Muslim communities, highlighting the summit’s broad-based support.
The conference concluded with a call for continued advocacy and strategic initiatives to elevate the socio-economic and political status of Muslims in Maharashtra and beyond, setting the stage for a concerted push towards fair representation in the nation’s democratic processes.
