MMWO sets poll agenda
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 20 2016:
The Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO) has decided to launch a campaign against political parties which have been ignoring many socio-political issues of minority Muslims of the State.
Speaking to media persons at their Hatta office on Thursday, MMWO president FM Abdullah Pathan, while pointing out that Muslims were economically and socially backward, called upon both BJP and Congress to take into account the socio-economic conditions of Muslim community in their election agenda.
The two political parties should give up the notion of garnering Muslim votes by offering money.
Rather than making tall claims which would never see the light of day, political parties should focus on pragmatic policies and programmes which can alleviate the socio-economic condition of Muslim community, Abdullah said.
It was a matter of serious concern that some politicians have been leading Ulemas (Islamic scholars) into active politics.
He then appealed to all the politicians not to sow seeds of division within Muslim community.
MMWO hailed the State Cabinet decision to set up a separate minority department after segregating it from Minority and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) Department.
The key posts of Minority Department including the post of Director should be given to qualified Muslim candidates or IAS officers but officers working in other departments should not be absorbed into the department against any of the key posts, Abdullah said.
MOBEDS which is the implementing agency of MOBC should not be disbanded.
If the Government abolishes MOBEDS, MMWO would be compelled to launch all kinds of agitation, he continued.
Chief Minister O Ibobi assured Muslim civil society organisations in 2004 that an exclusive market complex for Muslims would be constructed at Imphal but the same assurance has not been translated into action till date, he lamented.
He further urged the State Government to start constructing of the promised market complex at the earliest.