By Rafat Nayeem Quadri, TwoCircles.net,
Ahmedabad: Claiming that Muslims in BJP-ruled Gujarat are better off than those in other states, Chief Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Minority Cell members of his party.
Modi was addressing Minority Cell of his party at Gandhinagar-located training college on Wednesday morning.
Modi said minorities in Gujarat have been equal beneficiaries of development taking place in the state which does not practice policy of appeasement.
He rejected the “lies” that were spread against the BJP rule in Gujarat. In a bid to woo Muslims before the Assembly election fever totally grips the State, Modi’s address is being considered as part of his election campaign.
It should be noted that it is for the first time that Gujarat BJP has got together to chalk out a plan to woo Muslims under Modi, who has been accused of complicity in the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, national vice-president Purshottam Rupala and state unit president R C Faldu, chairman of the state Haj Committee Sufi Saiyad Mahebub Ali, retired IAS officer and chairman of state Waqf board Ali Saiyed also attended the meeting. The assembly elections in the state are to be held in December.
Highlights of Modi’s address:
* Modi appealed political pundits to study and compare the works that Gujarat has done for Muslim welfare in any subject.
* Modi said, Muslim community in Gujarat enjoys the best status in the areas of prosperity, education and security.
* Modi said, “we have not committed sin of keeping Muslim community in backward position through appeasement.”
* He said Gujarat has received “good” status under the 15-point minority community welfare programme. Majority of 18 states that have been given “poor” status are Congress ruled.
*Gujarat has spent Rs 140 crore for scholarships to 63 lakh Muslim students in last 10 years.
*Muslims of Gujarat enjoys highest per capita bank account ratio compare to other states.
*Gujarat contributes highest number of Haj pilgrims.
* While nationally the per capita income of Muslims is Rs 804, in Gujarat it is Rs 875 compare to Rs 748 in WB, Rs 662 in UP and Rs 559 in Bihar.
*Modi said, in Gujarat the ratio of Muslim population and employment of Muslims in the government jobs is same which is 9%. Contrary to this in WB Muslims form 25% of total population but percentage of Muslims in government job is 3.2%, in Delhi it is 3% while in Bihar it is 7%.
* Modi said, the state of Gujarat has welfare programmes for Bakshi Panch communities(OBC) which also cover as many as 30 Muslim communities.
* Modi said, the state government has implemented Sagar Khedu scheme with package worth Rs 21000, and maximum number of Muslim fishermen are its beneficiaries.
* Modi said, Bharuch and Kutch are two districts that have highest number of Muslims. Both these districts have witnessed tremendous development. They are now among the fastest developing districts in India. Minority community in these districts has tasted the fruits of the development. In four major cities of Bharuch, 40% businessmen are Muslims. 25% new vehicles are purchased by Muslims. Muslims form 30% of total property deals. In land N.A. applications, Muslims form 47% part.
* He said, in Kutch, 45% of ship building yard business is owned by Muslims.
* Thanks to state government’s tourism festival, the handicraft artists earned revenue of Rs 2 crore. 80% of the artists were from minority communities.
* Modi pointed out that it is for the first time in the history that in last one decade there has been no curfew.
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Rafat Nayeem Quadri is the Editor of ‘BILKUL’ Gujarat’s First English Fortnightly. She can be contacted at : [email protected]