By RINA,
New Delhi: Reacting over diminished Muslim representation in newly formed 15th Lok Sabha, the convener of Joint Committee of Muslim Organizations for Empowerment (JCMOE), Syed Shahabuddin said, “Reservation for Muslims in both state assemblies and national parliament has become necessary.”
Expressing dismay at inadequate Muslim representation in Dr. Manmohan Singh’s new cabinet, Mr. Shahabuddin said, “Muslims had supported United Progressive Alliance in 2004 with great hopes but they got nothing except despair and desperation. The situation is not much different this time too.”
A press statement issued by JCMOE says, “Congress Party and its allies, TCM and DMK, had fielded fewer Muslim candidates in 2009 general elections. In spite of all this, Muslim voted for Congress that was pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In Kerala they supported UDF and voted for Congress and Trinmul Congress in West Bengal in order to defeat leftists but to no avail.”
Emphasizing that all analysts confess that Muslim support has been defining factor in UPA victory over NDA, Syed Shahabuddin said, “It is distressing that instead of being prized for their support, Muslims have almost been ignored at the time of ministry formation.” However, he expressed hope, “Expectedly, secular members of the parliament will not ignore Muslims’ problems, instead they will honestly exert pressure to include these issues in national agenda.”