By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: “If any Government wants to give reservation to the Muslims, first they should amend the Indian Constitution; otherwise Muslims could not get reservation. There is no provision to give reservation to the Muslims as a religious group in the Constitution,” said CPIM MLA Abdur Razzak Molla in a Seminar.
Former Land and Land Reform Minister of West Bengal and veteran CPIM leader was speaking during a seminar organized by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) on `The rights of Minorities in Indian Constitution – A Myth or Reality,’ held on December 18 at TB Association Hall, Park Circus, Kolkata.
Speakers: Veteran CPIM leader and Ex Minister Abdur Razzak Molla, Dr Masihur Rahman, Md Nuruddin, Dr Raisuddin, Saumitra Ghosh Dastidar, Abdul Aziz and Ahmed Hassan Imran (Right in back row) in a Seminar on `The rights of Minorities in Indian Constitution- A Myth or Reality’ organized by Association For Protection of Civil Rights, held on 18th December at TB Association Hall, Park Circus, Kolkata
Molla asked for immediate amendments to the Indian Constitution for deprived religious community like Muslims. He questioned that if so many times in the past Indian Constitution has been amended, then why not this time on the basis of religion?
After broadcast of the Abdur Razzak Molla’s statement in electronics media, state CPIM committee has been caught unguarded as they are scrambling for a position after Molla took stand contrary to the party’s view.
Speaking to TCN, Molla said that its been long and the party has deprived Muslims for over 34 years. It’s high time they should wakeup to the welfare of the Muslim community, he added.
Molla also said that he is ready to face any action and to answer to the party’s summons in this regard.
Speakers: State President of Jamat E Islami Hind Md Nuruddin.
Documentary film maker Saumitra Ghosh Dastider, who was also present in the seminar, said, Muslims are suffering for long time, and its time they should get justice. Narrating his first hand experience while shooting for a documentary on Gujarat 2002 riots, he said that if need be Constitution might be amended to help the backward and deprived classes in the Muslim society.
State President of Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Muhammad Nuruddin said that Muslims should stand united to pressurize the government over reservation issue. He warned that unless they come under one umbrella, they will suffer.
Editor of a Benglai Weekly Mizan, Dr Masihur Rahman said, as a general public we will fight for justice. They may be Muslim, Hindu or anybody else.
At the end of the meeting with AIUDF state leader CPIM Veteran leader Abdur Razzak Molla(First row left), AIUDF State Vice-President Jamirul Hassan (Front), Rafikul Hassan (Second row left), Maulana Siddiqullah chowdhury (second row right) and other AIUDF officials on 18th December 2012 at AIUDF state office at Park Circus, Kolkata.
After the seminar Abdur Rajjak Molla had a meeting with Al India United Democratic Front State President Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury at AIUDF state party office at Park circus, Kolkata.
Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury informed the TCN regarding this meeting that, this is a special meeting to make a third front in Bengal. But Rajjak Molla was not willing to disclose the meeting’s agenda.
There are speculations that through his Minority Social Organization, Naya Zamana, there might be some kind of coming closer with the AIUDF in the coming Panchayat elections. Molla. However, denied to make any comment on that.