New Delhi: Muslims voters in India though has a minority percentage in comparison to the Majority Hindu community yet are left unprotected at the hands of injustice walk with the hope that winning candidate can improve their lives as their votes will play a decisive role in at least three parliamentary constituencies in the national capital.
Not being treated as a vote bank this minority community hopes the winning candidates address their issues as well.
Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi and East Delhi are the constituencies where Muslim voters can be seen, according to them, their neighbourhoods are the most deprived segments of the national capital, lacking basic civic amenities.
“We do not even have basic facilities like proper roads, sufficient number of schools, hospitals and colleges in areas where Muslim are concentrated. The politicians seek Muslim votes every election, but when it comes to delivering work, they forget our issues,” Bilal Ahmed, a resident of Seelampur, said.
While Muslims residing in Jafrabad and Mustafabad, complain of lack of education systems like schools in this area.
“The population here is very high. There is only one government senior secondary school in Mustafabad. There is no government hospital in near our locality. But nobody is concerned about our issues,” says Shabnam Khatoon, an anganwadi worker and a resident of Mustafabad.
According to statistics, the Muslim community comprises of an approximately 20% of the Delhi’s total population with the highest population in North East Delhi (23%) followed by East Delhi (16%) and Chandni Chowk (14%).
Another East Delhi constituency resident, Mohammad Urooj, 25 said education and employment are his main electoral voting issues.
“We need better schools, colleges and job opportunities in these areas, on par with other parts of the city,” he said.
“Every time elections are around, political parties promise jobs, education and so many other things. The community has remained behind in these sectors. I just hope my sons who are about to complete their graduation get good jobs soon and help the family,” Shabana a homemaker in Delhi Sadar bazar said whose husband works at a cloth store.
“This time, both the AAP and the Congress have tried to garner the support of the community after their alliance did not work out. The parties have aggressively campaigned against each other. The fight will be fierce during these elections,” Mohammad Nazeer a 65-year-old senior citizen and a resident of Okhla’s Batla House, said.