‘Mamata needs Muslim leaders who are experts in bomb production… She can’t digest the rise of a nationalistic minority face like me’: ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui

Siddiqui: Initially I was reluctant to join politics. I was engaged with social work and charity. But I realised that social work and charity will not go far in helping people. Only after joining politics and being part of governance did I feel that I could genuinely help people. In 2021, when the ISF was formed, there was a binary of the BJP and the TMC in West Bengal. People of Bhangar went against this binary, blessed me and I won. I became the lone non-BJP Opposition MLA in the Assembly. Thereafter, I have been working for social change.

In January, you were arrested and spent 41 days in jail on attempt-to-murder charges, after a rally at Esplanade in Kolkata. What do you remember about those days?

Siddiqui: Everyone saw how the police dragged me into a van during our rally in the heart of Kolkata on January 21. My crime was that I was spreading awareness among the masses regarding their basic rights. This, at a time when people were being used by all (political parties). There was politics of minority and majority, but not of development. Thanks to the Chief Minister, I was in police custody and then in jail custody. In both places, I refused VIP treatment and preferred to be among the common accused. It was a learning experience. I tasted prison food and drank its water. The experience was bhoyonkar sundor (terrifyingly beautiful).

I will raise issues in the Assembly such as the condition in which accused persons are kept in police lock-ups. I was at Lalbazar (Kolkata Police headquarters). You know, a Brahmin is not supposed to remove their holy thread. In the lock-up, you are made to do that. You are made to remove prayer beads too. You are made to wear a pair of shorts. A Muslim needs to cover his knees all the time. There is no watch or newspaper. The toilet has no door. You do not have privacy. You are subjected to mental pressure. All this, when you are an accused, not even a convict. I have learnt this, and will raise this in the Assembly.

How do you look back at your alliance with the Left and Congress?

Siddiqui: Furfura Sharif played an important role in politics during the Independence struggle. Now, after so many years, that tradition is being revived. Our aim is not to grab power, but social change. After the formation of the ISF, we made it clear that we are ready to join hands with non-BJP and non-TMC forces. That is it. We want to work for the downtrodden, for farmers, working class, minorities, Adivasis and others.

Earlier this year, the Congress got its first MLA in the Assembly when it won a by-poll from Sagardighi. But recently, the Congress MLA joined the TMC. Is their pressure on you too?

Siddiqui: When the ISF was formed, we got offers to disband. After I won from Bhangar, there was offers of cash and a ministerial berth of my choice. Initially it was top leaders who gave the offer. When they were rejected, local leaders of Bhangar approached, many of whom had good relations with me. Messages and offers came even through my university friends, some of whom are with the TMC now, with whom I had kept in touch. But we rejected the offers every time. I cannot break the trust people of Bhangar put in me when they elected me.

In Bengal, there are many such turncoats. In my opinion, if anyone thinks of leaving a party, even due to ideological differences, one should resign as an MLA and let the people decide via vote.

“I will raise issues in the Assembly such as the condition in which accused persons are kept in police lock-ups,” Siddiqui said.

ISF workers were involved in clashes with TMC workers in Bhangar during the panchayat poll nominations recently, in which three people were killed.

Siddiqui: People of Bhangar are peaceful. They do not want violence. What happened was that bullets and bombs rained on us during the filing of nominations (for the panchayat polls), and people protested. They just want their rights — to vote and to file nominations for polls. They just want to establish their democratic rights, which is currently not allowed to them. I have always appealed for peace.

The TMC leadership has blamed you for the violence in Bhangar.

Siddiqui: They are unable to digest the fact that a minority face with nationalistic thinking like Naushad Siddiqui is coming up. That is why they want to label me as a rabble rouser. She (Mamata Banerjee) needs Muslim leaders like Arabul Islam and Saoukat Mollah, who are either experts in bomb production or throwing jugs at lady professors (which Arabul Islam was accused of). But, Naushad Siddiqui is bringing Muslims to the mainstream, he is trying to make Muslims nationalistic and responsible citizens. That is why they cannot stand me.

What do you think of the condition of minorities in Bengal?

Siddiqui: I do not do politics of minority or majority. Poor people of both communities are suffering in the state. Muslims, Adivasis and Matuas, all are suffering. Even if you think about minorities in Bengal, tell me what has changed 12 years after the Sachar Committee report? Has the condition of minorities improved?

Money for minority development has been diverted to the School Education Department. Money for tribal development is being spent on non-tribal issues. Land belonging to the Wakf Board that was encroached upon, has not been returned. Instead, even more land of the Wakf Board is lost and is being misused.

You approached the Calcutta High Court for security. Why?

Siddiqui: I have been attacked a number of times. I was threatened a number of times that I would be murdered. I will not go into the details, but I can tell you this, that I was pressured to take actions that would spread communal hatred. When I refused, I was told I would be killed. I have informed the police about this. When we tried to submit nominations for the panchayat polls, bullets and bombs were showered on us. After the violence in Bhangar, I went to Nabanna (the state Secretariat) to meet the CM. She did not meet me.

The state and Centre did not give me security. I appealed to the Calcutta High Court for security. Till date, I have no security.

How do you see TMC chief Mamata Banerjee being part of the Opposition alliance against the BJP, which also includes your partner CPI(M) and the Congress?

Siddiqui: We also want one-on-one contests with the BJP in the entire country (for the Lok Sabha polls). But I feel that the TMC chief, while holding meetings with the Opposition, will break the Opposition. She is there only to give advantage to the BJP, by finally not joining the alliance. She is talking about democracy in India, but in Bengal, the same democracy is in peril.

The TMC, in turn, says you are hand in glove with the BJP, despite still being in an alliance with the Left.

Siddiqui: They also say that the CPI(M) and Congress are with the BJP. However, whenever they are in trouble, it is TMC leaders who can be seen catching a flight to Delhi and holding meetings with the Prime Minister or (Home Minister) Amit Shah… They are trying to label us as agents of the BJP. People understand why they are trying to do this. people are not fools.

Do you think the presence of central forces will help in the conduct of free and fair panchayat polls in Bengal?

Siddiqui: No number of central forces will be able to facilitate free and fair polls if the State Election Commission does not act impartially. If the commission does not want free and fair polls, they will never happen. Even if one company of central forces is assigned for each booth, free and fair polls will not happen.