🖋️ S. Anwar

The issue of Dalit‑Muslim unity has been discussed for decades, but now there is a felt need to work on it with renewed vigor. In this vein, on Sunday (20 September, 2026) a significant meeting of the Dalit‑Muslim Unity Forum, Bihar, was held at Raja Bazaar, Patna, chaired by the renowned surgeon Dr. Abdul Hai. The main agenda was — “Sit together, meet together, eat together” and to advance unity through Dalit‑Muslim collaboration.

Bihar’s prominent Muslim‑like figure Ashfaq Rahman said in his address that Dalit‑Muslim unity is a call of the times and we agree with everyone’s opinion. However, we believe that any unity can succeed only when we are prepared with an open mindset. Dalits, whether they become ministers or high‑ranking officials, cannot exercise their rights. Let alone the Muslims, they cannot do anything for their own society. They cannot raise their voice against the collegium system, which is not mentioned in the original Constitution but has evolved from Supreme Court judgments. At the ground level, even if only as a ploy, Dalits have been positioned against Muslims. Meanwhile, both Muslims and Dalits are victims of violence in the Forward Block. When Muslim crowds are being lynched, Dalit crowds are also being lynched. As Muslims fight the BJP and RSS ideology with great strength, Dalits are not opposed to the BJP and RSS. The top Dalit leaders are either in the BJP or in parties allied with it.

Ashfaq Rahman said that both Dalits and Muslims are exploited as of today. They must fight exploitation together and come together on a single platform. We must expose our own mistakes, you must expose yours, and only then can unity be achieved. In 1950, by presidential order, Section 341 was prohibited and Muslims were denied the opportunity to contest elections for hundreds of seats; Dr. Ambedkar did not raise his voice. Yet after losing an election in Maharashtra, Muslims called upon Bengal and sent them to the Constituent Assembly as victors. We have always initiated unity. Ashfaq Rahman also stated that no complaint of oppression ever comes from the Muslim side. Muslims do not commit social barbarism. The problem will be solved only by sitting together. The beginning must happen.

Dr. Hai said that in the current atmosphere of hatred in the country, promoting Dalit‑Muslim unity has become imperative. Shakil Ahmad Khan said that fraternal bonds among citizens are more important than alliances of communities. When we live like urban brothers, the community will also remain united. The alliance focuses on three key points: equality, fraternity, and constitutional citizenship. A decision has been taken to convene a state‑level Dalit‑Muslim conference in Patna on 22 November. Attending this meeting were Congress leaders Shakil Ahmad Khan, Amar Azad, Triloki Manjhi, Ajay Passwan, Sanjay Balmiki, Shaukat Ali Rizvi, among others.