Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pitched for Muslim quota and inclusion of Dalit Muslims in SC category at a conference held by All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz of MP Ali Anwar Ansari on July 1. The conference was called to demand inclusion of Dalit Muslims and Christians into Scheduled Caste category.
“In India caste has deep root, people change their religions but not castes. So, persons belonging to SC category whether they are Muslims or other should be treated in the same manner. Discrimination on the basis of religion is not good for democracy. At the time when I was MP, I had raised the issue to remove the condition of religion from Article 341, but unfortunately it has not been done till date,” said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar while addressing the conference.
Coming down heavily on Congress he said: “Sachar Committee report and Ranganath Mishra Commission report are showing mirror to Congress which has been occupying power at Centre and many of the states after independence that it did nothing for Muslims. It is time for Congress to implement the recommendations of Mishra report. Our MPs will support it in the parliament.” Mishra Commission has recommended 10% quota for Muslims throughout the country.
On development regarding Centre-run MsDP plan in 90 minority concentration districts the Chief Minister said: “Of 90 Muslim dominated districts, seven are in Bihar. Last year we sent proposal for Kishanganj district to give benefits of the scheme to madarsas also which was accepted by centre but when we sent the same proposal for madarsas of remaining six districts, it has been rejected.”
However, he did not respond to the demand from public that state government should adopt the pattern of southern states to give reservation to Muslims.
Ali Anwar Ansari, Mahaz chief and brain behind the conference, appealed to Chief Minister to solve the problems of Dalit Muslims. He also brought in chief minister’s notice the Nalanda power loom which is being put on sell, and requested him to intervene in the matter otherwise thousands of poor people would lose the source of their incomes. He assured Nitish Kumar that Dalit Muslims would give full price for his development work in the coming Assembly elections. But he demanded him to give tickets to Dalit Muslims as per their population so that the issues related to them would be raised loudly.
Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Isa Mansoori, Chairman of World Islamic Forum, London, said: “To work for Pasmanda people is the mission of all Prophets. We should work to the development of them.”
Maulana Mahfoozur Rahman Usmani, a noted cleric from Supaul, stressed on equality among all sections of the community and unity. ”Our representation is becoming lower in legislative houses, so we should work towards it united because we cannot get our rights until we make collective efforts for it.
The program was attended by Pasmanda Muslims in good number from across the state as well as from outside. A delegation from Nepal under the leadership of lone Muslim MP in Nepal Mahmood Alam and delegations from Mumbai, Azamgarh and Delhi also attended the convention.
On the occasion a special issue of Delhi based Uedu magazine Marif-e-Qasim with the title Payam-e-Insaniat (Message for peace) was also released by Mr. Nitish Kumar.
L-R:Maulana Mahfoozur Rahman Usmani,Maulana Isa Mansoori, Nitish Kumar,Ali Anwar Ansari,Maulana Junaid Alam Banarsi and Mahmood Alam (MP in Nepal) [TCN Photos: By Manzar Bilal]
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