By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: In an attempt to silence her critics and brushing aside allegations of appeasing Muslims, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that protecting the interests of the minority community is her constitutional responsibility and she will not hesitate in fulfilling it.
“Without the amplification of the minority community, majority community cannot go forward. Others in a society too cannot move forward, if a section of the people remains backward,” she said during a felicitation programme of Muslims students for the distribution of scholarships & loan by the West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) on 19th June at Netaji Indoor Stadium in the state capital.
WB CM Mamata Banerjee at the felicitation program of WBMDFC on 19 June at Netaji indoor stadium.
She added that protecting and nursing of the Muslims is her Constitutional responsibility. “Some people are asking me why you are doing this for the minorities, I tell them of course I will do it and continue to work towards the upliftment of the minority,” she said, adding that this is not a sin.
She said that there is no place for communal forces in the country and for the government all students are same, irrespective of religion, adding that she is not working for one community in particular, but all the minority communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain or Christian.
Showcasing the work she has been doing for the minorities, she reminded the audience of her government’s achievements. “I have given scholarships to the 57 lakh minority students in last three years. 94.5 percent Muslims in the state have been enlisted in the OBC list. They will get the opportunities of the reservation in higher education. From the month of July-August minority students will enjoy the OBC reservation,” she said, amidst applaud form the audience.
She also claimed that the boundary walls of 1040 Muslim graveyards have been constructed. She said that soon 50 marketing hubs will come up and that the new Medical College, which is coming up in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas will see more number of Muslim students’ enrollment because of new reservation policies.
In this program Mamata Banerjee also inaugurated with remote control a branch of Urdu Academy in Islampur of North Dinajpur district, Girls Hostel campus of Aliah University at Park Circus and two Muslim students’ hostel at New Town Rajarhat.
Urdu Academy in Islampur built in 1.63 acre of land has the facilities of coaching centre along with 100 seated computer training centre. Girls’ hostel in Park Circus came up at a cost of Rs 200 Crore and will accommodate at least 250 students.
Chief Minister of WB also inaugurated the 118 years old Elliot Hostel’s (reserved for Muslims) newly renovated Building, cost of 1.9 cr with capacity of 150 students and another Annex building of Carmichael Hostel (Reserve for Muslim) that has a capcity of 176 students.
Another Mobile Library of Urdu Academy, started with a cost of Rs 16 lakh, was also inaugurated.
A total of Rs 144.23 Crore loan and scholarship amount was distributed in this programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium, that include students from Class one to Post-doctoral level.
In all 2.5 lakh pre-matric students got 30.39cr; total 1 lakh 53k 54 . Class XI to post doctoral stage students got post-matric Scholarships 54.3 cr. Further 1243 students got Rs 1-5 lakh term loan. Another 20 thousand girls got 2o cr in -self-help’ scheme, 140 girls got 14 cr to start business under different scheme. 1051 students got 3.6 cr. as education loan.
The WB CM also handed over a cheque of ten thousand rupees each to Mohammad Shamim Akhtar (Rank 90) and Mijanur Rahman, who performed well in WBJEE (Medical).
Top 20 of students of High Madrasa, Alim and Fazil examinations were also facilitated by the Chief Minister. CM gifted laptop to the top 10 students of the high Madrasa, Alim and Fazil.
State Minister of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department Giasuddin Molla, Urban development Minister Firhad Hakim, Library Minister Abdul Karim Chowdhury, Fire Minister Jawed Ahmed Khan,Transport Minister Madan Mitra, MP Ahmed Hassan Imran, Idris Ali, Nadimul Haque, State Waqf Board Chairman Justice Abdul Ghani, President of West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education Fazle Rabbi, Deputy Mayor of Kolkata Corporation Farzana Alam, Member of State Minority Commission Maria Farnandage, Chairman of the West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation Abu Ayesh Mondal, Chairman of the state Minority Commission Intaj Ali Shah, Chairman of Madarasa Service Commission Dr Abdur Rauf, HS council Member Prof Wayejul Haque and many others Muslim personalities of the state were present in this felicitation and scholarship & loan distribution programme.