Muslims demand separate Department
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 03 2014 :
All Manipur Muslim Organisations Coordinating Committee (AMMOCOC) has demanded that a separate Department exclusively for the Muslims of Manipur be set up outside MOBC Department.
In a press conference held at Hatta Minuthong office of All Manipur Muslim Students Organisation, AMMOCOC general secretary Abdul Noor said that the present Minority Commission is not capable to handle its works properly.
The Committee would spearhead an agitation if the Government fails to take up positive steps in this regard.
Saying that the Committee raised strong objection when the Government decided to club together minority Muslims and OBCs in MOBC Department, Abdul Noor said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Minority Affairs Minister AK Rahaman had given assurances to set up a separate Department for the minority Muslims of Manipur during separate meetings with these leaders on January 27 this year.
He said that AMMOCOC, AMMSO and UMMWDO are ready to launch different forms of agitation in collaboration with other civil society organisations to demand a separate Government Department for minority Muslims of Manipur.
On the other hand, the State Minority Commission has not been working properly since past few years, he added.
Although, the State Government provides funds to MOBC Department through six Government Departments for the upliftment of minority Muslims, MOBC Department has not done any outstanding work so far, he said.
Alleging that the State Minority Commission has failed to look into such loopholes of MOBC Department, Abdul Noor said that the present Chairman of the Commission is not capable to discharge his duties properly due to old age.
Saying that Commission members and Chairman are generally changed every three years in other States, Abdul Noor said that no such change is seen in the State even after 12 years of the Commission's inception.