In this 2 part series, we will attempt to see a bit of history of the so-called “secular” AIMIM party.

The rise of AIMIM from a regional communal party for Muslims in Hyderabad for a good 60 odd years to spreading its wings into Maharashtra and Bihar as the representatives of Muslims is certainly a worrying sign. Interestingly, the Muslim majority areas of Seemanchal (in Bihar) have predominantly voted for a regional party from Hyderabad. And unsurprisingly with greater majority in terms of vote share of the Muslim votes going to AIMIM. 

The suave politician that Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi is, mouthing copiously the so-called secular credentials of his party on debates and TV interviews, goes on to play the Muslim card and the need to form a strong Muslim party for getting justice to Muslim demands. I am yet to come across an issue that the AIMIM or Mr. Owaisi has raised for any other community other than Muslims. Like other Muslim parties, the entire representation of AIMIM is through Ashrafi candidates (either descendants of the prophet or the upper caste converts). Even the 5 seats that AIMIM won in Bihar are all Ashrafi’s. The Pasmanda (lower caste) Muslims do not get enough representation and are simply used to garner votes and as foot soldiers. This caste system in Indian Muslims itself is a topic for another article.

Coming back to the current topic of AIMIM, the name itself stands for “All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Musilimeen (All India Council/Meeting of union of Muslims)”. What has a name like that got to do with anything other than Muslims? So much for secularism that Mr. Owaisi parrots on. Back in 2014 when PM Modiji was elected, Mr. Owaisi in a fierce speech angry with the results went on to call the PM and the people who voted for Modiji as dogs (find the link in the references). He even went on to say that “Riots and unrest will happen against the rightful ruler and blood will flow instead of water on the streets.” (link in reference) Amazing display of secularism! I am sure many of you remember his brother Mr. Akbaruddin’s 15 min threat to Hindus and in fact he did repeat his threat more than once (link in reference). Mr. Waris Pathan as recently as Feb 2020 again threatened Hindus: “that though we are 15 Cr Muslims and you are 100 Cr Hindus, we will be heavy on you!” (link in reference). 

One begins to wonder from where does AIMIM get this ethos from, this Islamic supremacist mind-set and a threatening stance against Hindus. Simply digging into the history of AIMIM will provide the necessary answers. Originally formed in 1927 as MIM, under the Nizam’s blessings, they stood strongly for the creation of an Islamic State of Hyderabad. This at a time when Hyderabad had 85% of Hindu population which, Mr. Jinnah wanted to be reduced to a statutory minority. Quickly enumerating some salient points of that time (1927 – 1946):

  • This pro-Nizam party (MIM) was created to thwart Hindu political aspirations.
  • During this period, Hindus were not allowed to build/repair any temple. Remember second-class citizenry (Kafir) from the Muslim rule?
  • A culprit who desecrates any temple goes unpunished. 
  • Hindu religious teachers were prohibited from pravachans.
  • The congress party, Arya Samaj and any organization that even remotely wanted to be the voice of Hindus were banned. Strangely, the congress party in those times was considered a Hindu party by fanatic Muslims.
  • Muslim deendars and members of Ittehad were given a free hand to carry out preselytization of Hindus on a large scale.
  • In the name of nationalism Sir Akbar Hydari, the finance minister of Hyderabad state, acquired 51% stake in several industries built by Hindus. He successfully elbowed out many Hindus from the PWD and Accounts department of Hyderabad.
  • Sir Akbar Hydari also picked Mir Laik Ali, an assistant engineer in state service, got him to float a company “Hyderabad Construction Company (HCC)” and gave all government construction work to this company alone. Moreover the 51% stake taken over from Hindu companies too were given to the HCC.
  • Thus the industry in Hyderabad became an instrument of Nizam and Ittehad received financial support from HCC. The Nizam in fact went on to provide Rs. 20 Cr to the Govt of Pakistan post partition. Ummah is their only truth and secularism is their today’s cover (Al-Taqiyya).
  • Nizam made education medium via Urdu compulsory, even though 85% of the population was Hindu (speaking Telugu, Kannada and Marathi).
  • Sir Akbar Hydari also lavishly funded Osmania University with the fond hope of creating fanatic Muslim scholars like the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
  • Speaking of AMU, which Mr. Jinnah fondly noted that they were the “the arsenal of Pakistan”, produced an equally fanatic Muslim for the Deccan, Kasim Rizvi : a lawyer by profession.
  • Kasim Rizvi, a member of MIM was also a small time lawyer in Latur, bailing out goondas of Ittehad.
  • He was brought in 1946 to head MIM until his arrest in 1948 post Operation Polo. Incidentally on the AIMIM website today, you will not find a mention of Kasim Rizvi and on the history page, the years 1944-48 has been blipped out.
  • In fact, AIMIM tries to disown Kasim Rizvi and MIM of the past saying they are not the same and that they are ‘AI’MIM and not Rizvi’s MIM. Interestingly, before Rizvi left to Pakistan post serving his term in jail, he appointed Abdul Wahed Owaisi (grand-father of Mr. Asaduddin) as the party in-charge.

The MIM party, a political instrument of Nizam, was actively pursuing the Quranic tenets of subjugating the Kafir and relegating the Kafir to a Dhimmi status, while helping and co-operating with the Muslim Ummah to ensure that the sun on the Nizam state never sets!

From the above, it is rather clear from where does the AIMIM derive its ethos and Islamic supremacist mind-set. It is rather famous that Mr. Owaisi and his party will not say: “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, now the recently elected Ashrafi MLA from Seemachal (Bihar) has a problem with the word “Hindustan” and will not utter it. At this rate AIMIM might have a problem with Hindus itself going forward.

But again this is just the beginning, in the next article we will cover the 1946-48 period of MIM to see how this thought-process evolved and how it is still relevant in these times. The unfinished business of having an Islamic Sultanate of Bharat is slowly a work-in-progress and AIMIM under the Owaisi’s are hitting way-above their weight and unfortunately seeing a bit of success too.

References:

  1. https://www.aimim.org
  2. End Of An Era – Hyderabad Memoirs by KM Munshi
  3. Hyderabad in Retrospect by Ali Yavar Jung
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eil2tzPGpV4&has_verified=1
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVNuK5r3g0M
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykypjI-JSPo&t=43s
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhiMQsBb-cE
  8. Cover Image : OpIndia article

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