By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Mumbai: In a press conference on Monday, Welfare Party of India has announced to fight on 80 seats out of 288 for the upcoming Maharashtra Elections due in October. Launched in 2011 WPI has alleged that the state government of ignoring Muslims and OBCs in the state and has called upon people to support it against ruling and communal parties. It has also charged state government of playing vote bank politics by using OBCs and Muslims during elections whereas not solving any of their economical and educational difficulties.
Besides election announcement, the party has declared that it would be organizing a huge protest on 13th August in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra against state government’s ignorance towards Muslims and OBCs along with issue of growing farmers’ death in the state. The party also claimed that it has support from 132 social organizations in the state and hence the protest would expectedly be joined by near fifty thousand people.
Mr. Mujtaba Garooq, National President of WPI said, “Muslims and OBCs in the state are facing real economical backwardness while the state government only appoints commissions and allot some fund for them which seldom reach them for their benefit”.
“In a protest on 13th August we will be agitating for issues of Muslims, OBCs, Farmers and educational short comings in the state”, he added.
He also said his party is reaching out to other political parties in the state for alliance before elections on the said agenda of solving problems of Muslims, OBCs and farmers.
Mr. Abdul Rauf, State President of the party said, “Ours is not a new party. We are working between people since 3 years listening to their problems. After protest on 13th August we will connect with people on the ground for support.”
Prof. B. R. Gawande, State Vice President of party criticized state government’s reservation politics and said, “When OBCs in the state are 52% of the population they have been awarded 19% reservation where as Maratha community have been recently awarded 16% reservation according to their population, which is unjustified. Similar is the case with Muslims who have been awarded only 5% reservation when they make up 13% in the state.”