Ranchi: Chairperson of National Commission For Minorities, Syed Shahezadi, expressed disappointment over lack of data on minority affairs.
“One can imagine the situation of minorities in the state if senior bureaucrats from the government don’t have any clue on the schemes being run by the Centre or about the beneficiaries of scholarships, hostels, mosques, residential schools meant for minorities in the state,” said Shahezadi.
Addressing a press conference at the state guest house on completion of her three-day tour of the state, Shahezadi said that she wanted to meet the chief secretary as well as DGP and secretary of minority welfare to review the implementation of PM’s 15-point programme for minorities. “However, I was informed that senior officials couldn’t make it to the meeting as they were busy with ongoing budget session,” she said.
Shahezadi also met representatives of religious minority communities which included Jains, Christians, Muslims as well as Sikhs. “During my interaction, I was told that there are many Sikh families from Bokaro — victims of 1984 riots — who have not been provided with compensation yet,” she said.
Jain community representatives raised the issue of ban on use of alcohol and non-vegetarian in five kilometre area of Parasnath — a shrine of the Jain community. “I will be raising this issue with the state government so that these demands are fulfilled at the earliest,” added Shahezadi.
She also visited a madrassa run by Anjuman Islamia and Maulana Azad College in Upper Bazar area and said that it was very disheartening to see the condition of it.
“When I visited the madrassa and demanded to meet the students, I was informed that the students weren’t present as teachers had announced a holiday. On being confronted that how can they announce a holiday without the government’s consent, they couldn’t explain,” said Shahezadi.
