By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: ETV Urdu organized a seminar on challenges before the minority in Hotel Kempski in Mumbai on Sunday which was telecast live on all its channels in over 7 countries. The programme ran into trouble when the invitation sent by ETV Urdu, mentioned Rajnath Singh, the former president of the BJP, as the president of the programme.
Some Muslim organizations boycotted this programme and alleged that ETV Urdu is acting like paid media to soften Muslims towards BJP’s leadership and the Sangh Parivar. As expected people started hooting and disturbing many speakers like Salman Khurshid, P.A. Inamdar- leaders of Congress and Rajnath Singh.
Presence of Politicians politicized the issue and speakers of congress blamed the BJP and BJP blamed the Congress for the backwardness of Muslims. Blaming Congress, Rajnath Singh, leader of the BJP said, “Sachar committee report suggests that it’s not the BJP which ruled only for 6 years but others who are ruling since last 60 years, are responsible for the backwardness of Muslim.”
L-R: Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan and Salman Khurshid
On Gujarat riots 2002, he said that there were many communal riots after the independence and Muslims should also remember other riots also. During his speech some members from the audience started questioning and asked about his views on Sachar Committee and reservations for Muslims and found him non committal. He said, “We will discuss it in the Party and will let you know.” He was also questioned about Malegaon and Swami Aseemanad.
Salman Khurshid, Union Minister of Minority Affair highlighted the commitment of the UPA II on maintaining the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia.
Rajnath Singh
Prithivi Raj Chauhan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra announced construction of two more Haj Houses one in Nagpur and the other in Aurangabad. He said, “Lots of discussion has taken place now; we should act and our government have identified the problems and are working on a roadmap.
Arif Nasim Khan Minister of Minority affair and Awqaf declared that government has freed 450 acres of waqf land from illegal occupants. He also announced that the Maharashtra government is the first to implement Prime Minister’s 15 points programme.
He announced that “a monitoring committee of MLAs the legislative committee will be formed to look after the implementation of Minority schemes and prepare a yearly report that later will be tabled in the assembly and will be discussed.”
Maulana Mehmood Madni, secretary, Jamiatul Ulema Hind stressed the need for education and said, “We must teach our kids at any cost.”
Those who participated in the programme include Ms.Fauzia Khan, MoS for Minority affair, Mohan Prakash, secretary Congress Committee, Delhi, Manik Rao Thackeray, president, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Shanwaz Husain, and other leaders of BJP.