The Mayawati government has decided to set up a separate cell to deal with the problems being faced by Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. The move is aimed at placating the Muslim community whose votes are now crucial for the BSP in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
The cell will be set up by the state advisory council that is headed by BSP MP Satish Chandra Misra.
According to highly placed sources, the decision to set up the cell was taken after various delegations of Muslim clerics and religious leaders met the chief minister Mayawati and Mr Misra in the past week and apprised them of the problems of the community.
After hearing the various demands and problems put up by Muslim leaders, it was decided to set up a separate cell that would deal with their demands and problems and examine them before taking a decision.
"Each and every complaint or demand received by the cell with be thoroughly examined and a decision will be taken on it after examining the legal and administrative ramifications of the same. The cell will, in a way, function as a link between the government and the Muslim community, with no room for middlemen," said a senior government official.
With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, the Mayawati government is keen to ensure that the problems faced by the Muslim community are resolved without any delay. The National Commission for Minorities has already cast a shadow on the Mayawati government by saying that the maximum number of aggrieved Muslims are in Uttar Pradesh. Majority of the complaints relate to harassment by the police, especially after the spurt in terror attacks. Shia clerics who met BSP leaders in the past few days had submitted a memorandum demanding the restoration of Waqf properties acquired by the government agencies in Uttar Pradesh. The clerics also sought an increase in representation of Shias in government departments.
The delegation, in particular, pointed out to the acquisition of the property belonging to the Shahdara mosque on Mohan Road in Lucknow for the proposed construction of a university for the disabled, named after Shakuntala Misra, mother of Satish Chandra Misra.
The government, it is learnt, has already responded to the complaint and plans to return the 27-acre land acquired for the university to the Mosque.
The cell, meanwhile, will entertain complaints both from institutions as well as individuals. "In cases where complaints are related to particular departments, we will forward them to the same and them monitor the progress. In cases where the government has to take a decision, we will examine all aspects and forward them to the appropriate authority. In short, it will be a single window redressal cell for Muslims," the official added.
Courtesy : www.asianage.com
The cell will be set up by the state advisory council that is headed by BSP MP Satish Chandra Misra.
According to highly placed sources, the decision to set up the cell was taken after various delegations of Muslim clerics and religious leaders met the chief minister Mayawati and Mr Misra in the past week and apprised them of the problems of the community.
After hearing the various demands and problems put up by Muslim leaders, it was decided to set up a separate cell that would deal with their demands and problems and examine them before taking a decision.
"Each and every complaint or demand received by the cell with be thoroughly examined and a decision will be taken on it after examining the legal and administrative ramifications of the same. The cell will, in a way, function as a link between the government and the Muslim community, with no room for middlemen," said a senior government official.
With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, the Mayawati government is keen to ensure that the problems faced by the Muslim community are resolved without any delay. The National Commission for Minorities has already cast a shadow on the Mayawati government by saying that the maximum number of aggrieved Muslims are in Uttar Pradesh. Majority of the complaints relate to harassment by the police, especially after the spurt in terror attacks. Shia clerics who met BSP leaders in the past few days had submitted a memorandum demanding the restoration of Waqf properties acquired by the government agencies in Uttar Pradesh. The clerics also sought an increase in representation of Shias in government departments.
The delegation, in particular, pointed out to the acquisition of the property belonging to the Shahdara mosque on Mohan Road in Lucknow for the proposed construction of a university for the disabled, named after Shakuntala Misra, mother of Satish Chandra Misra.
The government, it is learnt, has already responded to the complaint and plans to return the 27-acre land acquired for the university to the Mosque.
The cell, meanwhile, will entertain complaints both from institutions as well as individuals. "In cases where complaints are related to particular departments, we will forward them to the same and them monitor the progress. In cases where the government has to take a decision, we will examine all aspects and forward them to the appropriate authority. In short, it will be a single window redressal cell for Muslims," the official added.
Courtesy : www.asianage.com