-Congress’ Alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami – A Threat to Democratic Values?
Congress’s acceptance of Jamaat-e-Islami support could set a dangerous precedent, potentially mainstreaming groups with divisive agendas under the guise of “secular opposition.”
New Delhi, November 9:
Kerala Chief Minister and one of the key leaders of INDI Alliance, Pinarayi Vijayan’s allegation about Congress-Jamaat-e-Islami nexus has raised significant concerns about the Congress’s ideological leanings and commitment to democratic principles. Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan’s statement claiming that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress’s new candidate in Wayanad, is contesting with Jamaat-e-Islami’s support also raises critical questions about the nature of this political alliance.
As a party that has traditionally claimed to uphold secular values, Congress’s growing reliance on groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, whose political ideology has long opposed secular democratic frameworks, seems contradictory. Historically, Jamaat-e-Islami has advocated for the establishment of an Islamic state, which appears to fundamentally oppose the inclusive, secular democratic structure that India stands for. Vijayan’s statement suggests a troubling shift in Congress’s strategy, prioritizing short-term electoral gains over long-standing democratic principles.
The Welfare Party of India (WPI), often viewed as Jamaat-e-Islami’s political wing, has now openly pledged its support for Congress’s United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Wayanad bypolls. This move is not without precedent, as Jamaat-e-Islami and WPI have previously aligned with various parties to contest BJP’s influence. However, their professed long-term agenda—establishing Islamic rule—remains clear and counter to the secular fabric of the Indian state.
Vijayan’s remarks extend beyond Wayanad and highlight Jamaat-e-Islami’s history in Jammu and Kashmir, where the organization has consistently opposed democratic elections, operating outside the Indian state’s constitutional framework. Despite claims that Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, which operates in Kerala, is separate from the banned entity in J&K, the ideological alignment of both factions with an Islamist agenda poses challenges to democratic governance.
It is critical to understand the deeper implications of this partnership. Congress’s acceptance of Jamaat-e-Islami support could set a dangerous precedent, potentially mainstreaming groups with divisive agendas under the guise of “secular opposition.” This strategy, short-sighted as it may be, undermines Congress’s credibility as a secular alternative to the BJP, raising doubts about the party’s commitment to national unity.
This political dynamic is highly significant for BJP supporters. The Bharatiya Janata Party has consistently upheld the principle that Indian politics should be guided by national unity, integrity, and democratic values above all. Congress’s alliance with an organization that does not prioritize democratic principles or national integrity only strengthens BJP’s stance on the need to safeguard the Indian political space from extremist ideologies.
Further complicating the situation, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Kerala chief, P Mujeeb Rahman, openly acknowledged that the group supported CPI(M) in various states in the 2019 elections and collaborated with the party in several local bodies in Kerala up to 2020. Rahman’s assertion that Vijayan’s criticism of Jamaat-e-Islami is only intended to consolidate the majority vote suggests the CPI(M) sees value in this alignment for short-term political advantage—another example of principles sacrificed for political expediency.
As the November 13 bypoll is approaching, these developments underline a fundamental choice for the voters of Wayanad and the broader Indian polity. Should the country risk empowering parties that align with ideologies contrary to democratic governance?
