Khan said he will raise Muslim issues in parliamentary forum meetings
TCN News,
Delhi/Hyderabad: Mohd. Ali Khan, member of Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh has been appointed Congress whip in the upper house by party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Mr. Khan since starting of his tenure in 2008 has made a mark by giving good attendance and being consistent in asking questions on the floor of the house. In 2010 TCN report card on Muslim Rajya Sabha members M.A. Khan topped the list by putting 90 questions.
Mohd. Ali Khan has been member of many parliamentary committees including consultative committee on Home Affairs. Before getting appointed to Rajya Sabha Mr. Khan was president of Andhra Pradesh Congress Seva Dal, Chairman of Society for Employment Promotion & Training in Twin Cities (SETWIN), and former director of Andhra Bank.
Speaking with TCN Mr. Khan said his basic duty as ruling party whip will be to maintain relation between opposition and Government functionaries in the Parliament, to organize his party men for voting on the bills, to ensure conclusive ending of debates and the tough task will be to ensure safe and timely passage of bills.
Mr. Khan said becoming a party’s official whip will not curtail his right to ask questions but he will continue to work in the frame work of his party as loyal Congressmen.
He said after Wakf amendment bill which was recently passed in both the houses, there is no major legislation meant for Minorities in next corner. He informed us that his party has planned to make legislation based on Sachar Committee recommendations but it might be dragged on after elections due to continuous logjam in the Parliament.
Congress whip Mohd. Ali Khan said he used to raise issues concerning Muslims and other oppressed sections in the Parliament and will continue to do so in the party’s parliamentary forum. He told us he is planning to raise the issue of arrest of Muslim youths in the parliamentary forum meeting scheduled in Jharkhand to press for legislation for legal aid to youths who are languishing in jail without any evidence.
Mr. Khan also thanked Ms. Sonia Gandhi and parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath for giving him this responsibility, he termed UPA as only Government which has fulfilled all its election promises.