By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: In a posturing both against his party and the Brahminist ruling class, CPI-M leader and former minister of Left Front government Abdur Razzak Molla has given indication to form a party to mobilize weaker sections in West Bengal – Muslims, SCs, STs and OBCs who he said constitute 81% of the state population.
After British Raj there is Brahmin Raj in India. Take the example of West Bengal. After Brahmin chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya, now has come another Brahmin Mamata Banarjee to the seat of chief ministership, Molla said while speaking at a symposium on minority education issue here on 17th June.
L-R: Abdur Rezzak Molla, Suranjan Midday, Entaj Ali Shah, Harbinder Singh, Santosh Rana, J Oyprakash Bej
“In our country Brahmin Raj is continuing. Like West Bengal, Buddhadev Bhattacharya has gone, but another Brahmin Mamata Banarjee has come to the seat of Chief Ministership,” he said. He said Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Dalits and Muslims can make a vital role in West Bengal as Muslims along with SC/ST are 51% and with inclusion of OBC it will be 81% of the state population.
Molla demanded reservation for Muslims in all sections like education and job. He said, if Tamilnadu can have 70% reservation, so why not West Bengal. If it needs amendment in the Indian Constitution it should be done.
Audience of the Symposium
He said he wants to organize a movement with the backward class people of Muslims and Hindus both. He is chalking out a plan to make a party like `Krishak Praja Party’ which was formed by Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, former Prime Minister of West Bengal, and will celebrate his birthday along with Dalit leader Jogen Mandal. To make a new party, Razzak Molla said he is ready to face his party CPI-M’s action anytime.
Molla, who is among handful of ministers of CPI-M who emerged winner against the wave of Mamata in the May 2012 assembly polls, said Muslims should organize themselves under an umbrella organization, otherwise they will be isolated again. They have to learn modern education like science, Maths etc otherwise they cannot compete with Brahmins and other high caste people, said Molla at the symposium titled ‘Implementation of Article 30 of Constitution of India for Educational uplift of Muslim Minority’ held at Sishubikash College of Education Auditorium, Chakberia-Makrampur of South 24 Parganas on Sunday.
Speaker Abul Kashem Munshi (R-L) Dr Miratun Nahar, Joyprakash Bej, Santosh Rana, Entaj Ali Shah, Harbinder Singh, Suranjan Midday and Abdur Rezzak Molla
At the program, Intaj Ali Shah, Chairman of the Minority Commission of West Bengal, highlighted various discriminations against the minority community in the state.
He alleged that even Muslims constitute around 65% in Murshidabad, but 90% of teachers recruited for SSK (Sishusiksha Kendra) and MSK (Madhyamik Siksha Kendra) under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan are Hindus. But he also mentioned educational backwardness as one reason.
Shah lamented that the community has no leader of the stature of A.B.A Gani Khan Chowdhury who once on a discrimination against Muslims in recruitment had entered Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s office to register his protest.
Shah also remembered Ex Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Roy’s speech in a Lawyer conference in 1971, where he had said that every Police station must have a Muslim constable. Shah said Muslim constable in every Police station is very important, because Muslims fear to meet directly to Officer In-Charge (OC), they could feel easy to talk any constable first.
Addressing Ex-Minister Abdur Razzak Molla
He further said that Muslims dominate population in correctional homes in the state. He said, among the six correctional homes in the state Dumdum, Alipur, Presidency, Baharampur, Jalpaiguri and Maldah the largest number of inmates are Muslims. Education can remove the painful situation, he thinks.
About the Minority rights and situation in West Bengal he said, according to Article 29 no Government aided school can refuse to take admission of Muslims or recruit Muslim teachers. He alleged that Burdwan Harisava Hindu Girls High School has denied taking Muslim girls students. Journalist Mr Imran informed him and State Minority Commission has taken initiative to admit the Muslim girls in that Institution.
Veteran leftist leader Santosh Rana said, in India there are two different laws. If you are Nepalis and staying here for only five years you will get Indian Citizenship, but if you are Bangladeshi and staying even for 30 years you will not get Indian Citizenship because you are Muslim.
Mr Rana demanded more residential Muslim schools in several districts like Mushidabad. SC/ST Residential school in Jhargram in West Midnapur is growing rapidly and guardians line up to admit their wards there. Such residential Muslim school should built by the Government and that should be reserved for exclusively for Muslims. Without reservation uplift cannot possible in Muslim Society. He alleged if St Xavier College gets valuable land at Rajarhat-Newtown absolutely free, why no Muslim Institution getting it.
Renowned social worker and Constitution expert Mr Abul Kashem Munshi alleged that, Left front Government discriminated against the Minority Institution Sishu Bikash Academy. The situation has continued even in the new Government of Mamata Banerjee. It is also discriminating and violating article 30(2).
Addressing Entaj Ali Shah Chairman WB Minority Commission
Social Activist and renowned educationalist Prof. Miratun Nahar said, Muslim girls are behind in the education field. So, at first we should encourage Muslim girls to read in school, college in a large number.
Professor of Rabindra Bharati University Suranjan Midday, Ex Joint Register of Calcutta University Nitish Biswas, Ex Judicial Register Harbinder Singh, Dr. Joyprakash Bej, Tofail Ahmed, Advocate Kazi Nurul Islam also delivered speech on Minority education. Symposium was anchored by Abdur Rashid Molla and Abdus Shukur.
A large number of authorities of Muslim private schools from different places of West Bengal were present at the program. At the end of the symposium they announced to make an umbrella organization `Forum for Minority School’ to fight for Minority education rights in West Bengal.