Trending Ramzan election controversy

Elections 2019 have been announced. The elections are falling in the Holy month of Ramzan. Will this really affect the voting?

Ramzan/Ramadan is the 9th month of Islamic calendar which is related to fasting. During Ramzan, a Muslim has to restrain from drinking and eating from dawn to dusk. Elections Commission has announced the election dates for the forthcoming General Election 2019. There is hue and cry over this issue, why?

For the information of my fellow country-men, let me give details regarding the norms of fasting during Ramzan. A person who is fasting has to lead a daily life as per regular schedule just like other days when he is not fasting. It is not to abstain from work and take rest. If you are working, then you have to continue it. When Ramzan falls during summers–Islamic calendar is lunar based, which shifts backward 10 days every year–the person who is fasting should not stay at home and take rest or go for bath number of times. One cannot damp his/her lips with water during fast but has to work just like other days of the year. Then from where this controversy has erupted that elections during Ramzan will create problems of the Muslims?

On 17 July 2014, just after 51 days of Narendra Modi swearing-in as the 14th PM of India an incident occurred which lead to uproar in both the Houses of the Indian Parliament. Rajan Baburao Vichare MP from Shiv Sena an ally of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) forced a Muslim to eat bread while the person was fasting due to Ramzan. His video went viral which created the controversy over the forceful putting bread into the mouth of Maharashtra Sadan canteen staffer Ashraf Zubair. The lawmaker said that he was not aware if Ashraf Zubair was fasting. He only came to know regarding this when the controversy erupted. Ashraf Zubair’s Ramzan fast was broken due to this action of Shiv Sena MP. But the nation moves on…which is more important than anything.

Image created from the viral video 

Now when the tenure of Modi is coming to end and the Election Commission has announced the election schedule which falls during the month of Ramzan, politics is in the air! Some politicians are trying to woo the Muslim minority with the plea that standing in the queues to cast their votes that too during the hot month of May–Ramzan is falling in this month this year–will be a problem. Islam preaches nation first, then how can its followers not perform their constitutional right. Don’t get carried away by the false myths of the politicians.

One should cast his/her vote during the holy month of Ramzan with the prayers that India should have a stable and good government this time. May the new government cares for its minorities and remove the hatred which has been in the air since 2014. Muslims in India are about 20% of the entire population and their single vote is very meaningful. So be a part of this National Event!

Disclaimer: These views are solely of the author.