The former CM came in for flak from the Muslim community during a meeting with representatives of various organisations as well as citizens of the community.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was at the receiving end of the Muslim community’s anger and disillusionment, who flayed him for his government’s delay in forming the minority department to laxness in financial allocation for the welfare schemes of the community.
The former chief minister came in for flak from the Muslim community during a meeting with representatives of various organisations as well as citizens of the community at Islam Gymkhana in south Mumbai on Wednesday.
Those present at the meeting asked him to show what he had contributed towards the community during his reign in the state, which ended in December 2008, and blamed him for failing to keep the promises had had made.
More than 500 Muslims were present at the event, organised by Sewa, an organisation led by Muslim legislator Yousuf Abrahani. Former deputy chief minister RR Patil of the Nationalist Congress Party also attended the event, but kept away from the spotlight.
One member said Muslims are extremely upset with the state government issuing advertisement for the utilisation of funds allocated for the minorities. “The department was formed in February in 2008 but financial allocation was made after six months.
Now Rs111 crore has been allocated to the minorities but there is no time to utilise the funds,” he pointed out to Deshmukh, referring to the fact that the state elections are due in September.
Maulana Sayyed Athar ridiculed the government’s scheme of granting Rs2 to every child from the minority community for attending school. “With just Rs 50 per month, how is government going to cut the dropout rate of minority students?” he asked, and added, “We are demanding reservations for the community based on economic status.”
Another grouse was the low representation of Muslims in politics. One member told Deshmukh, “We have only one MP from the state against the 20 per cent Muslim voters. The community has represented many constituencies in the past, though Congress and NCP have undermined it of late. We want two seats for the Lok Sabha, including one from Mumbai,.”
Deshmukh was also held responsible for failing to protect the Wakf properties and for not appointing a Muslim minister to head the department.
In reply, Deshmukh adoped the tactic that the best form of defence is offence. “Only the government cannot be blamed for every thing. Does the community follow up on issues properly,” he asked the gathering. “Assure me with that you will follow up and I will see that the problems are sorted out at the government level.”
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