Pasmanda Muslims are creating headlines as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BJP members to fulfill the aspiration of all sections of society.
Pasmanda Muslims are creating headlines as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BJP members to fulfill the aspiration of all sections of society.
This came after UP CM Yogi Adityanath inducted Danish Ansari, a member of the Pasmanda community from Balliya into its cabinet.
Who are Pasmanda Muslims?
The Persian term “Pasmanda” literally translates to “those who have fallen behind,” “broken,” or “oppressed.” In the political scenario, it refers to the Dalit and lower-caste Indian Muslims who, by most estimates, make up 85% of all Muslims and around 10% of all Indians.
By bringing up the concept of “Pasmanda,” the BJP challenges the idea of a monolithic Muslim identity and the “mainstream” Muslim politics that are founded on it.
According to The Print, Backward, Dalit, and tribal Muslim communities, including Julahe (Ansari), Dhunia (Mansuri), Kunjre (Raeen), Kasai (Qureishi), Fakir (Alvi), Hajjam (Salmani),, Gwala (Ghosi), Dhobi (Hawari), Mehtar (Halalkhor), Lohar-Badhai (Saifi) are now being identified as Pasmanda.
Why BJP, RSS are After Pasmanda Muslims?
By highlighting the fact that the Muslim identity is divided into at least three caste/class groups—namely, Ashraf (elite upper caste), Ajlaf (middle caste), and Arzal (lowest castes or Dalit)—the BJP is trying to contradict the widely held belief that Indian Muslims have any ostensibly common sentiments or interests.
It is being said the BJP is trying to deepen the differences among the Muslims and putting Pasmada Muslims onto their side by including the community into scheduled cast which is only reserved for Hindus. As of now, Muslims claiming to be from the lower class are only categorized as OBCs and are getting reservations.
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