By TCN News,
Lucknow: At least now Muslims are being remembered in UP’s politics. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo did not give the credit of her party’s victory to Muslims in 2007 but blamed them for her defeat in 2012.
“Muslims voted en bloc for Samajwadi Party (SP). At least 70 percent of them voted for SP,” said Mayawati after accepting her defeat. She remained firm that her dalit vote was intact with her party.
Plenty of schemes for Dalits, none for Muslims
A close analysis shows that Muslims have every reason to ask her about BSP’s performance in Muslim’s welfare. During her five year rule with absolute majority she launched several schemes but hardly one of them was aimed at Muslims. This was when she had maximum 29 Muslim MLAs elected in 2007. Schemes were launched for dalit welfare but there was no specific
scheme for Muslims. The scholarships issued by central government under ministry of minority affairs also failed to reach the Muslims. The UP Minority Financial Development Corporation was defunct as state government failed to provide the security for release of funds from
central government. More than a dozen weavers committed suicide in Mubarakpur, Bhadaohi
and other adjoining region as their traditional occupation died due to lack of market support and spiraling prices. No relief was offered to them.
No Muslim officer in her secretariat
No Muslims officer was posted at CM secretariat during her regime but dalit officers were aplenty.
Regarding Muslim reservation issue she was the first to openly oppose the minority quota within quota of OBC. However she can take credit for writing letter to Prime Minister Office demanding separate share to them realizing very well that it will never be fulfilled.
Urdu Farsi University was neglected
Nearly Rs 40000 crores were spent on monuments, parks and statues while a paltry sum of Rs 5 crore was granted for Urdu Farsi University which was even named after Manyavar Kanshiram. A university in memory of her close aide Satish Chandra Mishra was built in record time but Urdu Farsi University is yet to be functional. The Shakuntala Misra University was built even on the land of a Masjid but no replacement was offered.
Barring Naseemuddin Siddiqui who was cabinet minister with 18 departments, none of the Muslim MLA or minister could assert himself. Many of them were shown the door at eleventh hour and denied ticket. Waqf Minister Shahzil Islam and Minority Welfare minister Anees Ahmed Khan Phool Babu were denied ticket and thrown out of the party a day before the elections.
The UP Minority Commission was expanded with 17 members with 3/4 member being non Muslims. Most of them were BSP cadre and were recruited on ground of adhering to Buddhist religion. The tenure of Chairman of the commission was also reduced to one year. It was not given same power as in other commission.
Appointments in Information Commission did not have any Muslim representative.
Goons of other caste as Dhananjay Singh ruled the state as they were part of BSP but Mukhtar Ansari and Ateeque Ahmed were in jail. There is no justification in their past but the pick and choose policy is being questioned.
Communal Violence
She can take credit of maintaining law and order during Babri Masjid verdict but sporadic incidents of violence and riots where Muslims were targeted were reported during her regime.
Daddan Mishra whose brother was named in Dhannadeeh rape case where Muslim females were targeted in Sharawasti was given clean chit and Mishra continued as minister.
Incidents are many, list is endless but Muslims did not complain. Not a single protest was lodged by Muslims over the atrocities. Even in 2012 they voted for BSP though may be in less number as only 13 Muslim MLAs could win but why didn’t she apply same logic to Brahmins? Of the 33 Brahmin MLAs elected in 16th assembly, 16 are from SP while 17 belong to Congress and BJP combined. It means that Brahmins also did not vote for her but has Madam Behenji Mayawati has courage to admit this publicly?