NCP gets cosy with Muslims
The Maharashtra government has an independent corporation called Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation to help ameliorate Muslims’ lot.
By TNN |
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has an independent corporation called Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation to help ameliorate Muslims’ lot. But now, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which is part of the government, wants to have its own body to assist the minority community. The NCP has announced plans to set up a foundation to help backward Muslims receive education and launch welfare schemes for the community. The ‘Maharashtra NCP Muslim Education and Welfare Foundation’ is being set up with an initial capital of Rs 5 crore, party general secretary Tariq Anwar announced in Mumbai on Tuesday.
“During a recent meeting with Muslim community members here, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had said the findings of the Sachhar Committee report are ‘shocking’ and expose the baseless charge of Muslim appeasement,” he said. Immediate steps would be taken to set up an Urdu academy in Maharashtra, Mr Anwar said. The community members expressed their disappointment with the state government over issues like alleged police harassment and delay in financial assistance to some institutions, he said referring to Mr Pawar’s tête-à-tête with the Muslim leaders.
The exercise, though projected as Mr Pawar’s initiative to lend an ear to Muslims’ grievances, was actually aimed at wooing them towards his party, political experts believe. “Mr Pawar’s man RR Patil holds the home ministry in the state that has largely antagonised the Muslim community. Mr Pawar’s effort was basically to pacify them,” a Congress minister observed.
The state police’s action to round up many Muslim youths after blasts in Malegaon and other places last year had invited the community’s ire. The Muslims were upset with the government for its failure in nabbing killers of Khwaja Yunus who died in police custody. “By inviting them for discussion, Mr Pawar basically tried to strike a conciliatory note,” he said. His party’s initiative to set up separate body to woo the minority community is one more step in that direction.
Last year, after the Mumbai train blasts, Union home minister Shivraj Patil had asked the police not to “target a specific community”. Similarly, soon after the blasts in Malegaon, Congress president Sonia Gandhi paid a visit to the ravaged mosque. “That was all Congress’ initiative. The NCP now wants to neutralise with its own plan,” a Congress leader explained.
“During a recent meeting with Muslim community members here, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had said the findings of the Sachhar Committee report are ‘shocking’ and expose the baseless charge of Muslim appeasement,” he said. Immediate steps would be taken to set up an Urdu academy in Maharashtra, Mr Anwar said. The community members expressed their disappointment with the state government over issues like alleged police harassment and delay in financial assistance to some institutions, he said referring to Mr Pawar’s tête-à-tête with the Muslim leaders.
The exercise, though projected as Mr Pawar’s initiative to lend an ear to Muslims’ grievances, was actually aimed at wooing them towards his party, political experts believe. “Mr Pawar’s man RR Patil holds the home ministry in the state that has largely antagonised the Muslim community. Mr Pawar’s effort was basically to pacify them,” a Congress minister observed.
The state police’s action to round up many Muslim youths after blasts in Malegaon and other places last year had invited the community’s ire. The Muslims were upset with the government for its failure in nabbing killers of Khwaja Yunus who died in police custody. “By inviting them for discussion, Mr Pawar basically tried to strike a conciliatory note,” he said. His party’s initiative to set up separate body to woo the minority community is one more step in that direction.
Last year, after the Mumbai train blasts, Union home minister Shivraj Patil had asked the police not to “target a specific community”. Similarly, soon after the blasts in Malegaon, Congress president Sonia Gandhi paid a visit to the ravaged mosque. “That was all Congress’ initiative. The NCP now wants to neutralise with its own plan,” a Congress leader explained.
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