The Hindu : Convention turns into `political blame game'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 28, 2003

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Convention turns into `political blame game'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI DEC. 27. A convention held here today to discuss ways to improve the lot of economically backward Muslims turned out to be a "political blame game" with two of the leading speakers criticising the Congress for "economic, social and educational backwardness" of the Muslims in the country.

As the Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Nagmani, launched a tirade against the Congress, many participants in the convention were visibly agitated and took the speakers to task for digressing from the main subject - "Representation of the Economically Backward Muslims" - and turning the assembly into a "convention for political blame game."

In his brief address, Mr. Naqvi wondered why the fruits of development have failed to reach the Muslim community even after 55 years of independence from foreign rule. Holding the Congress responsible for it, the BJP spokesperson blamed the party for not fielding enough Muslim candidates for contesting elections.

Referring to the BJP's 3-1 victory in the recent elections to four State Assemblies, Mr. Naqvi said the results showed that people were focused on the issues of development and good governance. "Progress and development must be for the people and not just for a particular community. Let me tell you that the crutches of reservation will not result in development and progress," he said.

Calling for assimilation of the Muslims into the national mainstream without further delay, Mr. Naqvi said that all issues should be solved through negotiations and argued for an increased representation of Muslims in the government as well as the private sector.

Describing the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as a "true secularist", Mr. Nagmani said the communal situation during the past five years of BJP rule at the Centre had remained by and large peaceful and harmonious. Touching upon the riots in Gujarat not long ago, he blamed the Congress for even "worse riots" like the one in Bhagalpur.

The National Minorities Convention was organised jointly by the All India Muslim OBC Organisation, Minorities Action Group of India and Ameen-E-Shariat Education Trust.

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