On the sidelines, Barkati hinted that he could be campaigning for All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls
Syed Md Nurur Rahman Barkati, the former imam of the Tipu Sultan Masjid, who was known for his proximity to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, criticised the state government on Friday for the poor state of Urdu medium schools in the state.
"We have put up the Urdu Action Committee to highlight the poor condition of Urdu medium schools in the state. There is a dearth of teachers and the infrastructure is not up to the mark either," Barkati said at a press conference. He said that he would talk to Mamata with regard to bettering the condition of Urdu teachers, Urdu colleges, and Urdu newspapers. "There should be madrasas in all parts of the state," he added.
Parrying the question whether Mamata was not doing enough to promote Urdu in the state he said, "I think it is the people around her who are not giving her the right information. Didi doesn't get all the information. I used to apprise her of the situation all the time. Besides, she is allotting money but people are siphoning off funds meant for the upliftment of Urdu."
Asked what he will do if the government doesn't respond to his demands, he put forward a veiled threat saying, "Main hutumat banata hun aur hukumat girata bhi hun (I can bring a particular government to power and pull it down as well)," he said.
On the sidelines, Barkati hinted that he could be campaigning for All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. While on the one hand he said, "Of course I will be out campaigning, but cant say for which political party"; on the other hand he quickly added, "AIMIM is a secular party and will be good if a national party like that comes to power in Bengal. I have spoken in the meeting of AIMIM at Hyderabad and have personally spoken to party president Asaduddin Owaisi".
TALK TO DIDI
Barkati said he would talk to WB CM with regard to bettering the condition of Urdu teachers, Urdu colleges, and Urdu newspapers, adding there should be madrasas in all parts of the state.
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 "Syed Md Nurur Rahman Barkati")
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