Former Union minister C.M. Ibrahim, a prominent Muslim politician from the state, had a stint at the national level, serving as the country’s civil aviation and information and broadcasting minister in the 1990s before returning to Karnataka politics. Whether one likes him or not, his oratorical skills make him a big draw among the rural masses. Mr Ibrahim has had his share of controversies, the latest being his criticism of AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Madhusudan Mistry at an in-camera meeting held by the party. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Mr Ibrahim spoke about the recent terror conspiracy, the emergence of the Third Front at the national level, the Congress party’s future in the state and his campaign, Islam Against Terror.
Excerpts.
You said you were involved in a campaign---Islam Against Terror. Can you tell us more about this?
In the past, some outfits tried to foment terror by raking up the Kashmir issue. Unfortunately, barring a few misguided Kashmiri youth, no Muslim from the rest of the country joined or supported them. Though Saudi Arabi has radical Wahabi groups, they did not allow terror activity. But, many others made the best of this movement and tried to spread terror. On realising that a few people from India were in contact with these elements, we felt we should launch an awareness campaign.
How do you analyse the recent terror episode in Karnataka in which several youth were arrested ?
I have a different take on this. Many Ajmal Kasabs (26|11 accused) came here, did the damage and went back. For this, you cannot pick up innocent local Muslims and punish them. While probing the recent terror plot, the police admitted that they had evidence against only six or seven accused. Then why do you need to arrest 17 or 18 people?
How do you interpret the recent North East crisis and the exodus of people from Bengaluru to their home states?
I can confidently say the community leaders managed the crisis very well. Many leaders accommodated people from the North East and gave them shelter and food.
Moving onto politics, SP leader Mulayam Singh has been making efforts to revive the Third Front. In the Nineties, when the Third Front took shape, you were in the thick of things. What’s your take on this issue?
One can see a lot of difference in the political circumstances then and now. The blessings of late V.P. Singh made H.D. Deve Gowda PM. We do not have towering personalities. So the crucial question arises-Who will lead the Third Front?
Coming back to state politics, recently you said AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Madhusudan Mistry had promised you an MLC seat but later it was given to someone else. Can you elaborate?
I never lobbied for anything. The party offered me the council membership. In the past, I refused to accept it and so the seat was offered to V.R. Sudarshan. This time, Mr Mistry called me and told me about his plan to make me opposition leader in the upper House to create a Dalit-OBC-Muslim combination. He told me a Dalit leader is KPCC president and an OBC leader is the Opposition leader in the lower House. If I become opposition leader, it would help the party bounce back by riding on the wave of support for the Dalit-OBC-Muslim combine. When the proposal was sent to Delhi, AICC president Sonia Gandhi was not in the headquarters. I do not know what happened. When the list was announced, my name was not there.
Many leaders say that after the defeat of Mr Saradagi, Muslims have almost decided to desert the party. Is it true?
You are absolutely right. In places like Bidar, Gulbarga and Bijapur, Muslims seem to have decided not to back the party anymore. However, community leaders have convened a meeting on September 24.
In your view, who is capable of carrying this responsibility?
Mr Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge and Shamanur Shivashankarappa to some extent.
If elections are held in the present circumstances, what is your prediction?
I think the state will witness a fractured verdict. I strongly believe that a coalition at the state-level will prove to be a stumbling block for development.