The Prime Minister on Monday spoke specifically about Pasmanda Muslims in an attempt to reach out to the poorest, most backward and a majority among the community. The PM was speaking in a post-budget webinar, and highlighted the government’s efforts to reach out to the most deprived sections of society with its various welfare schemes.
Here’s is why they could become PM Modi’s next gamechangers –
Who are Pasmanda Muslims?
Here’s is why they could become PM Modi’s next gamechangers –
Who are Pasmanda Muslims?
- Pasmanda is a Persian word for “those who have fallen behind”. “Pasmanda Muslim” is used to describe the backward Muslims.
- Demographically speaking, Pasmanda Muslims are estimated to be around 85-90% of the total Muslim population in India.
- Pasmanda Muslims are said to have an indelible link with the Hindu population as they are believed to come from the
people who converted to Islam through the centuries. - About 40% of Pasmanda Muslims are said to have belonged to castes that currently make the OBCs — a BJP stronghold across several states.
What PM said
- “We have to quickly provide various facilities to our tribal people in over 200 districts and over 22,000 villages of the country. Similarly among our minorities, especially among Muslims, we have Pasmanda Muslims. How we have to take benefits to them… as they even today after so many years of Independence remain far behind,” said PM Modi, addressing a webinar on “reaching the last mile”
- He emphasised the importance of good governance for reaching the last mile, saying such an approach will have no scope for discrimination and corruption.
Timing of the push
- The BJP began its Pasmanda Muslim push in 2022, holding several functions, most notable in October in Lucknow, where it held a conference with prominent members and intellectuals of the Pasmanda Muslim community.
- PM Modi, however, had set the tone for the push in July, when he told the BJP national executive, held in Hyderabad, that the party needed to reach out to Pasmanda Muslims.
- Another focus area among the Muslim community is Bohra Muslims. PM Modi inaugurated an event of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community earlier this month in Mumbai, saying he saw himself as a family member of the Bohra Muslim community.
