By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: It was the first and right time when Muslims of West Bengal, united and loudly, demanded for reservation to tackle their dismal condition. Three organizations — Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH), All India Milli Council and Mojaddidia Foundation organized conferences in Dharamtalla, the heart of the Kolkata city, one after another in the last week of Jan 2010. They all demanded reservations for Muslims.
Maulana Siddiqullah Chaudhry is being welcomed by people
But Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind was the first to demand 20% reservation for West Bengal Muslims which was approved and supported by several Muslim organizations and political parties. Maulana Siddiqullah Chaudhry, general secretary of West Bengal Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind announced at the conference held on 28th Jan. to launch state-wide campaign for reservation.
Taking the first step in this regard, Maulana Siddiqullah Chaudhry led a 3-day vehicle-rally. The rally was started on 6th Feb from Zakaria Street area and after visiting famous areas of the city and holding several street programs it concluded in Belgachia area of the city.
Second day the caravan visited 24-Paragana and Basheerhart districts of the state where people were waiting eagerly for it. The third day it reached Howrah and Hoogly districts where people greeted the caravan with flowers and assured their support to the movement.
Though this rally was small in figure but impressive because it was supported by several Muslim organizations including All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu as well as by many political parties like Public Democratic Conference of India, Samajwadi Party, West Bengal Muslim League, CPIM Liberation, RPI and Indian National League.
It is noteworthy here that it was Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind which first started the agitation under the leadership of Maulana Siddiqullah in Nandigram to save lands of poor people which were overtaken later by Trinamool Congress. This was the Nandigram movement which provided the new energy to dying Trinamool Congress and put Left Front on the back foot in last Lok Sabha as well as Panchayat elections.
The state is going to Assembly poll in 2011 and before it corporation elections will be held in May 2010. Therefore to avoid any situation like during Lok Sabha election, Left Front government has announced to give 10% reservation to Muslims in government job under OBC category. But it has various problems as it will be applied only in job and only for OBC Muslims which are in a little number while Muslims as a whole are backward. Moreover, to get OBC certificate has not been easy cake for Muslims.
Maulana Siddiqullah Chaudhry expressed dissatisfaction over this announcement and said that 10% will not be enough to solve the problems of the state Muslims and also the mere announcement is not enough. “If government is really serious about giving reservation to Muslims then it should put a bill in this regard in the cabinet and issue notification to the related department.”
According to Maulana Muslims in West Bengal are 2.75 crore, of them nearly 16.83 lakh are OBC which means that a little number of Muslims will be benefited by this proposed reservation. Therefore, he demanded reservation for all Muslims without any condition on the basis of their backwardness because Sachar Committee identified all Muslims as backwards.
“We want reservation for Muslims in job, education, administration and government tender” he added.
When his notice was brought to Trinamool Chief Mamta Banerji she announced that if her party comes to power, Muslims will get reservation within first three months, he said: “She is a cabinet Minister in the centre, she can put pressure on central government to implement the Mishra Commission recommendation but so far she did nothing in this regard. She is railway minister where almost 14 lakh people are employees; of them Muslims are 70 thousands while they should be 1.40 lakh. So, first of all she should give Muslims their due share in railway then we will trust on her promise.”
He expressed his determination to continue his movement until Muslims get their due rights.
“If demand will not be fulfilled we will come out on road and agitate. We will also do all Bengal Bandh for 12 hours and we will do it as we have done in the past” said Maulana Chaudhry.
However, he urged Muslim leaders from across the country to be active for the Muslims reservation in their areas and exchange their views with each others to work in organized way. He also stressed on political empowerment and said that Muslims should have strong base in political circle also.