By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Union Travel & Tourism Minister Sultan Ahmed is for allocation of 30% of West Bengal development fund for the state Muslims as the community constitutes as much percentage of the state population. Ahmed said this at a convention called by All Bengal Minority Council and All Bengal Madrasa Siksha Kendra Staff Welfare Association on June 26.
“State Government will spend rupees 20000 crores on development in West Bengal. Muslims are around 30 percent in West Bengal, so they should demand that 30 percent of that money should be allocated for Muslims,” said Ahmed at the convention held in University Institute Auditorium here in Kolkata on Sunday.
Maulana Ishaque Madani, AIMPLB member
Union Minister of Trinamool Congress – the party which is now ruling West Bengal after ending Left Front regime – Sultan Ahmed also demanded direct reservation quota for Muslims in West Bengal like Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Every year more than Rs 450 Crores of minority funds return from West Bengal. Ahmed said he talked to some District Magistrates and chairman of Zilla Parishad. “They told me that they don’t have any clear instruction to utilize the fund in Muslim dominated areas,” Ahmed alleged adding that due to lack of criteria DMs were bound to return the money to Centre.
Sultan Ahmed also called the Muslims to stand up and enquire about the utilization of minority funds. He said, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) was launched in April 2005 for electrification of each and every village. But electricity has not reached most of the Muslim dominated villages in West Bengal.
Union Minister Mr Ahmed also said that Central Government allocated Rs 16000 crores for bank loans to Minorities, but they did not get it. It was distributed among the Sikh and Jain minority communities.
Sultan Ahmed
Addressing the gathering, Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress in Parliament Sudip Banerjee said Muslim youths have not registered their name in Employment Exchange in West Bengal, because they think year after year they did not get any call for government jobs. Mamata Banerjee’s regime will work on this front, said Sudip Banerjee.
Sudip said, `West Bengal is one of the largest Muslim populated states in India, but in Left Front regime they were in poor position in Govt jobs. Then Left Govt said, Muslims have not registered their name in Employment Exchange, so only 2 percent of the community has got job. It is not true. The fact is that for years they did not get the Interview letter. So they got fed up and are not willing to register their name in Employment Exchange’.
Chief Whip of West Bengal Assembly Industry Minister Partho Chatterjee was the chief guest. In his speech, he said: Convention can not change the govt policy. Muslims should present data to the government, then they can do something.
Sudip Banerjee
Partho Banerjee assured that if Muslims organized a committee to meet CM Mamata Banerjee on the minority problems, he can help. But Muslims should prepare a charter of demands.
Religious leader Peerzada Taha Siddiqui said Muslims are observing the activities of Mamata Banerjee led Govt. If they do not work for Muslims they will be thrown out after five years by Muslim vote.
Editor of Urdu daily Akhbar E Mashrique Nadim Ul Islam said: Muslims should come strongly and united otherwise their demand could not be met. He wants this type of convention should be organized at different places of West Bengal to reach the Muslim voice to the State Govt.
Audience
Executive Editor of Urdu daily Azad Hind Ahmed Hassan Imran Said, recently Govt recruited some public prosecutors, but there was not a single Muslim name. He request TMC Minister to recruit some Muslims in govt public prosecutors post.
Educationist & All India Muslim Personal Law Board Member Maulana Ishaque Madani said, Muslims should take proper education to achieve the goal.
Most of the speakers demanded Madrasa Siksha Kendra in West Bengal should come under mainstream and it should be declared a complete Madrasa board like secondary board with all facilities.
Organising secretary Md Kamruzzaman, All India Minoriy Forum President Idris Ali, Professor of Visva Bharati Sirajul Islam, MLA Mumtaj Begum, Deputy Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Farzana Alam, Chairman of State Minority Commission Dr Usman Ghani, Jahidul Sarkar and many more personalities were present in this convention. More than one thousand delegates had come from different places of Bengal.