Comments on: Taslima Nasrin http://blog.shashwati.com/2007/08/14/taslima-nasrin/ Shashwati Talukdar's Musings Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:28:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Anant http://blog.shashwati.com/2007/08/14/taslima-nasrin/#comment-201 Anant Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:22:54 +0000 http://blog.shashwati.com/?p=249#comment-201 The attack on Taslima was carried out by MIM legislators. This has to do with the local politics of Hyderabad city as the city gears up for the municipal elections. The MIM, was the largest single party in the 100 member Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad whose term is over. With the creation of Greater Hyderabad by amalgamating all the 11 or 13 satellite municipalities, MIM will no longer be able to control the affairs of the larger house of the MCH. But more importantly, a significant schism has developed in the Muslim community in the Old City in last couple of years. Two powerful urdu newspapers backed by powerful Muslim entrepreneuers in the Congress and Telugu Desam have been trying to break MIM's hold on the Old City. In that context, MIM launched its own newspaper, literally stole several journalists from the other newspapers and flooded the urdu print media market. In the run up to the elections, some of MIM's rivals have sided with the CPIM and started literally buying up the local power centers such as the pehelwans (who play a significant role in the old city's communal politics as well as in the huge industry of landgrabbing) to support the CPIM. Given the fact that the CPIM actually does not have a strong presence in Hyderabad city, and has only begun some serious effort to build an organizational base among the city's poor in the last few years -- there is also a view in circulation among some secularists that all this may loosen up MIM's hold, but instead of making room for progressive groups may end up helping the BJP to make inroads because the pehelwans in its fold may not easily switch sides. (I have no way of judging that prospect from a distance). MIM's strategy of winning elections has always been to play on the fears of the Muslims. They have been so successful at this game over the decades that even the muslim voters who are highly critical of MIM leaders, end up instinctively voting for MIM once they are in the polling booth. The attack on Taslima Nasreen took place in the Press Club of Hyderabad -- which is not part of the Old City. It is in the heart of the main city, within walking distance of the state assembly and very close to several properties which are controlled by MIM's rivals. This, as far as I know is the first time, the MIM has done anything like it. The attack on Taslima was carried out by MIM legislators. This has to
do with the local politics of Hyderabad city as the city gears up for
the municipal elections. The MIM, was the largest single party in the
100 member Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad whose term is over. With
the creation of Greater Hyderabad by amalgamating all the 11 or 13
satellite municipalities, MIM will no longer be able to control the
affairs of the larger house of the MCH. But more importantly, a
significant schism has developed in the Muslim community in the Old
City in last couple of years. Two powerful urdu newspapers backed by
powerful Muslim entrepreneuers in the Congress and Telugu Desam have
been trying to break MIM’s hold on the Old City. In that context, MIM
launched its own newspaper, literally stole several journalists from
the other newspapers and flooded the urdu print media market.
In the run up to the elections, some of MIM’s rivals have sided with
the CPIM and started literally buying up the local power centers such
as the pehelwans (who play a significant role in the old city’s
communal politics as well as in the huge industry of landgrabbing) to
support the CPIM.

Given the fact that the CPIM actually does not have a strong presence
in Hyderabad city, and has only begun some serious effort to build an
organizational base among the city’s poor in the last few years –
there is also a view in circulation among some secularists that all
this may loosen up MIM’s hold, but instead of making room for
progressive groups may end up helping the BJP to make inroads because
the pehelwans in its fold may not easily switch sides. (I have no way
of judging that prospect from a distance).

MIM’s strategy of winning elections has always been to play on the
fears of the Muslims. They have been so successful at this game over
the decades that even the muslim voters who are highly critical of
MIM leaders, end up instinctively voting for MIM once they are in the
polling booth.

The attack on Taslima Nasreen took place in the Press Club of
Hyderabad — which is not part of the Old City. It is in the heart of
the main city, within walking distance of the state assembly and very
close to several properties which are controlled by
MIM’s rivals. This, as far as I know is the first time, the MIM has
done anything like it.

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