LUCKNOW: From interpreting and implementingMuslim personal law to taking a plunge in the rough and tumble of active politics, the All India Shia Personal Law Board seems all set for a dramatic makeover in 2012 state elections.
The annual convention of the the board called upon the fragmented leadership and warring ulema to bury their hatchet and join hands with a resolve to support any political party which heeded the legitimate issues listed in the its charter. Demands raised during the two-day meet here included, among other, quota within quota for Shias in education and public sector.
The first-ever assertion of a clear political identity form the community which has at best been a fringe player in the hinterland politics has come as a surprise. The members however would rather view the development as a result of being pushed against the wall by successive governments in the state.
"Minority to Lucknow and Delhi leaders has so far meant only Sunni community. Two crores Shias spread across the state and five crores in the country have mattered little for political masters. This consistent neglect has played havoc with the socio-economic status and the community has slipped to the bottom of the rung," said Shia board spokesperson Yasoob Abbas. "We may not have the right numbers to ensure victory for a candidate but Shias can certainly emerge as potential game-changers in the election and UP election 2012 can be our first experiment. "And we can swing votes better than fledgling outfits like Peace Party," another member AISPLB said under condition of anonymity .
Claiming that the the Shia board charter is the blueprint of manifesto, he said that the upsurge could actually make a difference in the Shia-dominated pockets in Lucknow, Jaunpur, Barabanki, Faizabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Amroha, Ghazipur, Mau, Aligarh, Sulantapur, Rae Bareli, Rampur, Kanpur, Moradabad and Ambedkarnagar.
The charter cleared by the general body meeting, primarily aims at securing reservation of Shia-dominated constituencies in assembly and parliamentary elections on the lines of dalit and women reservation module. It calls for due representation in government cooperation and committees and reservation for Shias in government jobs, and educational institutes.
On local level, the board has reiterated its claims over the "historically proven waqf properties usurped by the biggest encroacher - the UP government - over decades". The resolution calls upon the government to either give back the Shia Waqf Board properties liken Jawahar Bhavan, Indira Bhavan and Janpath market land - , which once housed the Shia mausoleum - or pay the due rent so that the proceeds could be used for charitable purposes.
LUCKNOW: The two-day annual convention of All India Shia Personal Law Board concluded on Sunday on a women-friendly note. Resolutions passed by the general body of the board included a slew of reformative measures including disincentives against dowry, frivolous talaq, and female foeticide.
The board has decided to set up a help line for women in distress and also resolved to impose social sanction against those found involved in pronounced gender bias. The session urged the community to pay meher to the bride at the time of nikah since this is `sunnat' of the prophet and could avoid a number of complications, said spokesperson Yasoob Abbas. Abbas also said that the board would actively work to discourage frivolous divorces and provide assistance to wrongfully deserted wives.
The meeting stressed upon the need to avoid extravagance at weddings and suggested community marriages on pattern of Gujarat to bring down needless expenses. Use of Imambara as wedding venues will be encouraged to help out poor, Abbas said.
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