Indian Muslims, AAP and a lost opportunity

Muslims were reluctant to join the Anna Hazare movement because of its closeness to Saffron parties. After coming out of the Anna fold, Kejriwal has portrayed himself as the champion of Aam Aadmi. But so far his crusade has been directed mainly against corruption in the government and to some extent poverty. The AAP is yet to clarify its position on issues like secularism, reservation and communal riots.

It is also not clear yet whether the AAP's rise will hit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Congress more.

But there are some among Muslims who have been calling on the community and its leaders to support the AAP before it is too late. A Mumbai-based senior Muslim activist says Kejriwal has been trying his best to open communication with Muslims. This activist contacted Kejriwal two years back in Delhi.

At a meeting in Mumbai, representatives of some Muslim groups bombarded Kejriwal with a host of questions. Kejriwal spoke in his usual frank and free manner. Except for those more concerned with a Congress backlash, others welcomed Kejriwal (who was with Manish Sisodia) as a no-nonsense, single-minded activist who wants to cleanse governance of this country.