This is the inaugural newsletter of Indian Crescent Society of Australia (ICSOA) at this momentous day of 26 January 2017 marking both, the India’s Republic Day as well as the Australia Day.

On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect with a democratic government system safeguarding equality, security and freedom for all its citizens. In spite of many hurdles, India has successfully maintained itself as the largest democracy in the world for more than three quarters of a century.

With the upcoming various elections in India on provincial levels, the electioneering circus is in full swing. The most important one is that in Uttar Pradesh (UP), the most populous state with a significant Muslim minority to be held in March 2017.

A large number of Muslim candidates are being given tickets by various parties to stand in the election, obviously an acknowledgement of the fact that Muslim votes play a very significant role in deciding electoral victory.

All Indians in general and Muslim Indians in particular need to use this electoral empowerment in the best way possible in order to elect a government in UP that serves the nation and all its citizens in an equitable way without communal bias.

This newsletter in addition to messages of goodwill contains reports and some very relevant articles on Indian Muslims and the contemporary issues they face. We invite feedback and further contributions in future editions of ICSOA newsletter.

Pls write on [email protected]

Zia Ahmad is the coordinator of ICSOA Media Committee and is based in Sydney.