Rama Krishna Sangem
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who resigned from Union Cabinet on July 6, Wednesday, will be the new Vice-President of India, election for which will take place on August 6. He will be the BJP candidate for the post of Vice-President of India.
He was handling minority affairs ministry in the Cabinet. Naqvi, currently a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh and deputy leader of BJP in the Upper House. His term in Rajya Sabha just ended on July 6.
Born on October 15, 1957, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi hails from Allahabad, now Prayagraj, and studied arts and mass communication for his graduation. He is married to Seema Naqvi. He, an active student leader went to jail for opposing Emergency in 1975, when he was just 17. He joined Janata Party and contested several times to Lok Sabha. In 1998, became MP and joined Vajpayee government as Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting.
In 2016. he was elected to Rajya Sabha. Naqvi believes that Congress party was instilling fears among Muslims and other minorities by spreading falsehood about BJP. Indian Muslims are safe in the country and that they can assert their rights freely in the country, he believes. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi thinks though RSS is a separate outfit, it is not anti-national as secular people project it. He wrote three books, Syah, Danga, and Vaishali.
PM Modi’s choice:
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s choice for Vice-President of India is entirely that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have been hearing the names of some Muslim leaders for the post of VP. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan too figured as probables. Finally, Modi settled for someone from UP, and from within BJP for this second highest post in the country.
As BJP has enough majority in the Parliament to get its candidate – Naqvi -elected to the VP post, his election is almost certain. As he is a Muslim, the opposition parties may not force a major contest for this post. Even if they field someone, it will be symbolic or nominal. BJP needs someone from Muslim community to establish its credentials as a party for all and that it is not anti-Muslims. Even Vajpayee as PM chosen APJ Abdul Kalam for president post in 2002.
Now BJP needs a Muslim for a top Constitutional post at a time when some Islamic countries, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar have expressed their displeasure over its former spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s controversial comments. Naqvi, a moderate and an active supporter of Modi will be the right candidate for the party.
He has immense experience in Rajya Sabha, so running the House as its Chairman will not be a problem to him.
Venkaiah Naidu ends his tenure:
Current Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends his tenure by August 10. Though he didn’t expect any extension for his post for another term, there was some speculation that he would be continued for five more years. In fact, his name figured for the post of President – before Droupadi Murmu candidature was announced. However Naidu missed both the opportunities.
Now President Droupadi Murmu (she looks certain to win) is from Orissa, Naqvi is from UP and PM is from Gujarat or UP which he represents. So, representation to South India will be missing in the top political posts of the country. Interestingly, current President Kovind too is from UP. The deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha may come to someone from Karnataka this time.
Good and simple briefing🌹