First in history India have no Muslim representation in parliament after the resignation of Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday (6/7).
Naqvi resigned a day before his term expired. He is the only Muslim minister of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Naqvi’s resignation comes as the BJP has faced allegations of mistreatment of the minority community since 2014.
However, some outlets have suggested that the BJP may consider Naqvi as the Vice President of India amid global outrage after one of their politicians made anti-Islamic remarks.
The vice-presidential election in India will take place on August 6. Meanwhile, the term of the current Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will end on August 10.
Previously, the BJP appointed Draupadi Murmu as president last June. If she wins, Murmu will become the first ethnic female politician in India and the second woman to hold the post.
The Indian constitution provides ceremonial roles for the president and vice president. During this time, the prime minister and his cabinet hold executive power.
The BJP has 301 members in the lower house of the Indian parliament so far. Naqvi’s departure further demonstrates that this right-wing party has no Muslim members in the lower or upper house of parliament.
Experts say the lack of Muslim representation in the elected ranks of the BJP contradicts the party’s oft-vaunted slogan: harmony and inclusive growth for all.
Indian political analyst Arati Jerath claims that the BJP has always had a real Muslim presence, but that has not been the case when it comes to the executive.
“It’s something new and unusual. They don’t even have a Muslim face anymore. I think it shows how much the BJP has changed now under Modi and [Menteri Dalam Negeri federal Amit] Shah,” Jerath reportedly said AlJazeera.
He later said: “Publicly [BJP] showed that we could win elections without the support of Muslims. »
In the 2014 general elections, the BJP fielded seven Muslims. However, neither of them won, although Modi’s party garnered a lot of support.
(isa/bac)
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