Kishanganj: Discontent Growing Against MP Asrarul Haque in Bihar’s Most Backward Muslim Hub

Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi, who represents Bihar’s Kishanganj constituency in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament), seems to have disappointed his electorate yet again with his “poor performance” in the past three year since he was elected in May 2014. He has been elected on the Congress ticket from Kishanganj since 2004.

Though his track record shows that his attendance in Parliament stands at 90%, higher than the national average of 80% and state average of 88%, but the number of debates he participated in so far is only 12. The national average of participation in debates by MPs is 55, the state average stands at 49. These figures are drawn from analysis of Lok Sabha data by advocacy group PRS. The analysis shows that he asked just a single question in Parliament while the national average is 220 per MP.

A group called ‘Mission Seemanchal’ has been launched on social media to prepare a roadmap for the betterment of the constituency. The creators of the group said, “Our opposition to Mr Qasmi does not at all mean support to the BJP. We expect every party to come up with the best candidate.”

What about private members’ bill? None so far in the past three years. This is despite the fact that Kishanganj is the most backward districts in Bihar, densely populated, worst school dropouts figures, very poor in women literacy and the negligible healthcare facilities.

Qasmi has represented Kishanganj twice before the present term. His supporters claim that he will be seeking one more term. But the residents of his constituency, who are unhappy with their representative in Parliament, have resolved to “fight tooth and nail if the Congress fields any non-performing candidate” in Kishanganj in the next Lok Sabha elections that will held in 2019. Social media is being used extensively to mobilise support against his proposed future candidacy.

“The future of Kishanganj, its youths and children are not safe in his hand. In the villages of the district, you will find more women and children but very few men in their homes as most of them has migrated for earning livelihood in Delhi, Punjab and Mumbai. In the absence of their fathers children are directionless, no guarantee of their education. No guarantee of their health issues. The region faces one of the worst child mortality rates. Therefore, we need to seriously think about an alternative who can raise the plight of people of the constituency,” Kishanganj resident Mumtaz Naiyer – currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University Hospital Southampton in the United Kingdom – told Newsclick.

“Change is a long process, it takes time,” he says, adding, “We are constantly trying to find options not only for Kishanganj rather entire Seemanchal. We are looking for strong and sustainable leadership capable of bringing overall development of the region”.

Asked if they will support the BJP nominee, Naiyer replied, “First, we will see all the candidates and then decide who is better.”

Another resident of the district, Md Mudassir Alam, public relation officer at the Central University of South Bihar, draws parallel between the electorate of Gujarat and Kishanganj. “Like traders of Gujarat voted the BJP to power despite bearing huge losses in their businesses because of demonetisation and implementation of the GST (Goods and Services Tax), the people of Kishanganj also continue to elect a man who is incompetent and has done nothing for the welfare of people of his constituency,” he added.

Qasmi is among the bunch of MPs who failed to spend a single penny on worthwhile development work from his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) during 2015. Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector works to the tune of Rs 5 crore per annum to be taken up in his/her constituency. Qasmi’s report card of that particular year says that out of Rs 5 crore, he had recommended works only for Rs 30,000 and that too was not utilised for the development schemes.

With Muslims comprising about 68 per cent of the population in Kishanganj, it is Bihar’s only district and Lok Sabha constituency where Muslims outnumber Hindus and also India’s third largest Muslim-populated district after Dhubri (Assam) and Mallapuram (Kerala), leaving aside districts in the Kashmir Valley.