BENGALURU: Maulvis of the Muslim community, including Wakf Board Chairman Shafi Saadi, are demanding that key portfolios be given to Muslim MLAs. Some are also demanding the deputy chief minister’s post for Chamarajpet MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed.
But Muslim intellectuals have taken objection to this. Slamming the maulvis and accusing them of displaying sycophancy, they said the need of the hour is good policies drawn up for the community.
Socio-political activist Hares Siddique lashed out at the maulvis and imams, and termed them “directionless people”. “Some sections have taken to social media, demanding that a Muslim be made DyCM. Such a post adds no value to the community on the ground, the DyCM’s post or any other portfolio should be left to the party, and Muslim MLAs should not worry about it,” said Hares.
Education suffered a major setback in the past four years because scholarships were curtailed. BSc Agri, PhD and higher professional education has seen a significant drop because of this curtailment. The hijab issue has severely impacted Muslim girls’ education. “We should ask for additional scholarship grants which will be demand-based and not target-based. Hijab ban should be revoked,” pointed out Hares.
R Kaleemullah from Swaraj India, who works for migrant workers’ rights, said it is maulvis who spoil the image of the community. “When there were community issues, these maulvis did not step out. Some of them even questioned Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, and now want to come into the limelight,” he said.
Echoing similar views, Faiz Akram Pasha from the NGO Jana Sadbhavana, working on the rights of political prisoners, said, “Funds kept for the education of Muslims, and scholarships for minority development were diverted. These are the issues that should be raised. Earlier, minister Zameer Ahmed had resigned when Kumaraswamy was CM because the latter did not visit Chamarajpet Eidgah Maidan during Ramzan prayers. He should have ensured the funds were used for the community,” said Pasha.
The intellectuals also lashed out at leaders like Abdul Azeem, chairman of the Minority Commission and Wakf Board chairman, for sticking to his post during such issues.