Induction of minority leader in Cabinet evokes mixed response

Vijayawada: The induction of Muslim as Minority Welfare Minister in the State Cabinet just a few months ahead of elections evoked mixed response from the Muslim community leaders in the city.

Some representatives of Muslim organisations welcomed the allotment of portfolio while some others said there is no use of it as only a few months left for the Assembly elections.

With elections around the corner, the Muslim leaders are expressing divergent views on the allotment of portfolio after four-and-half years of TDP rule.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu had chosen NMD Farooq, a senior TDP leader and MLC as the Minority Welfare Minister. Besides, he holds the portfolios of medical education, NTR Vaidya Seva, APMSIC, food safety, NTR Health varsity.

Muslims constitute about 10 per cent of the State population. The Chief Minister had announced several times in 2016 that a Muslim candidate will be given a portfolio in the State Cabinet. Finally, he fulfilled his promise on Sunday just ahead of elections.

Muslim United Front (MUF) president Habeebur Rahman said that the Chief Minister had no intention for four-and-half years to include a Muslim leader in the Cabinet. He said the CM could have done it two years before to benefit the Muslim population.

He said the Chief Minister could help Muslims by protecting the Wakf property lands and allocating loans for construction of properties in the available lands. Rahman said rents could be generated from the lands if the TDP government sanctions loans.

Muslim Development Society president Muneer Ahmed welcomed the induction of Muslim candidate in the State Cabinet. He felt that the Muslims should not reject the portfolio when they were offered.

He said the Chief Minister should take a decision on filling the nominated posts like directors and members in the bodies like Wakf Board, Minority Commission, Minority Corporation and Haj committee. He said nominated posts which have been lying vacant should be filled on war-footing so that the middle-level TDP leaders could help the backward poor Muslims in the state.

Muslim Sankshema Samiti president and advocate Mukthar Ali said that the Muslims would not be benefited with induction of candidate in the State Cabinet. He said it would take three to four months to understand the Minority welfare ministry and its administrative affairs. He said the allotment of portfolio was an ‘eyewash’ and a step to woo Muslim voters in the next elections.

Muslim Hakkula Porata Samiti general secretary Md Farooq Shubli hailed the decision of the Chief Minister and said the Cabinet would have been completed without a Muslim candidate next year if the Chief Minister did not induct Farooq. He said the Chief Minister should allocate tickets to Muslim candidates in the next elections based on their population ratio.

He said Naidu could prove his commitment to the welfare of Muslims by fielding candidates in the Assembly, Lok Sabha, Panchayat and Municipal elections. He said allotment of berth in the State Cabinet for four or five months would not serve any purpose. The Minority welfare minister should focus on education of Muslim children and protection of Wakf properties, he added.