By IANS,
Kolkata : Criticising the ruling Left Front for neglecting the minorities in West Bengal over past three decades, top clerics of the Shia and Shunni communities Monday urged Muslims to vote for the Trinamool Congress in the assembly polls.
“People say that the minorities have got nothing during Left Front rule in Bengal. But I ask what has the majority got from them in the past 34 years. Then how can the minorities expect anything from them?” said Maulana Athar Abbas Rizvi, Shia Imam.
“In Bengal the minority vote is invaluable and is sure to play a big role in deciding which party comes to power. The leftists, especially the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), have done nothing for development of the minorities in the state. We are far behind from the rest of the metropolises in the country,” said Shahi Imam-O-Khatib Tipu Sultan Mosque S.M.N. Rahaman Barkati.
Twenty six percent of the state’s population of over 8 crore comprises Muslims.
Barkati, who is also chairman of All India Majlis-E-Shoora, a religious body said: “The minorities in the state have suffered the most. There has been a deliberate attempt to push them towards destruction by denying them education, employment, housing, health services and other basic amenities.”
“There are more than 90 thousand Urdu speaking people in the state but after repeated promises the state government had not introduced Urdu as the second language. More than 90 percent of the agricultural land acquired in Rajarhat belongs to the Muslims. The acquisitions are fraudulent and forcible,” he said.
Describing Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee as the agent of change and also a champion for the poor and oppressed, the clerics appealed Muslim voters to vote for the Trinamool and its ally Congress candidates.
“We need to give a chance to Mamata Banerjee as she has promised to introduce Urdu as second language and provide housing, education and better health services to the minorities. She never lies and never makes false promises,” said Barkati, adding that all top Muslims clerics will pray for her victory.
Six phase polls will be held in the stat from April 18-May 10.