Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 11: "The union government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented a number of schemes for the welfare of minorities in the country. These schemes will prove beneficial for the minorities in near future," said BJP block president, Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyar.

He was speaking after presiding over a meeting of Muslim religious leaders organized at Boliyar auditorium on Thursday August 10 by BJP's Mangaluru block unit.

He said that during the period Yeddyurappa was the chief minister, the state government had announced honorarium of Rs 3,200 to the khateebs and Rs 2,500 for assistants of mosques and that these honorariums are at the same level now. "In addition, the state government had provided Rs 400 crore to minorities development corporation for one year. To help Haj pilgrims, the then BJP government had provided facility of stay for them at the airport here. For students belonging to minorities with over 75 percent marks in SSLC, the government had issued order to extend all facilities, and for the marriage of girl students from these communities holding graduate degrees, financial assistance of Rs 51,000 had been announced, he recollected.

Religious leader, A B Haneef Nizami, in his address, stressed that this is not a programme meant to seek votes for BJP, which, he said, has implemented various schemes for minorities all over India. He accused people's representatives of failing to see that benefits from these schemes reach the targetted populace. "We will vote for anyone who helps the people in distress, irrespective of which religion the candidate belongs to. It does not matter to which political outfit they are from. Ulemas know when and why politics should be brought in," he stated.

Former general secretary of Dakshina Kannqada minorities morcha, Fazal Asaigoli, said that the MLA representing this constituency has failed in bringing the Ustads of Madrassas to the mainstream. "Religious leaders among majority community are becoming people's representatives, but among minorities, no such facility is provided. This is a question which needs to be probed. BJP invites religious leaders to fight the election and become people's representatives. BJP governments have implemented several schemes for the minorities. In Ullal constituency, Rs 25,000 each was provided to 1,785 Muslims, 12 Indica cars and 30 auto rickshaws were sanctioned and compounds were built to mosques. Ustads should not get divided in the name of different organizations. They should join the mainstream of the society and become people's representatives," he urged.

Bantwal BJP president, Ramdas Shetty, BJP leader, Rajesh Naik Ulepadyguthu, BJP leaders, T G Rajaram Bhat, president of district minorities morcha, Joel D'Souza, Boliyar gram panchayat president, Satish Acharya, general secretary of minorities morcha, Dr Muneer Bava, Aziz Francy, Hameed Mizami, Siddique Imami, Usman Kadani, BJP block secretary, Manoj Acharya, Khalandar Asaigoli, secretary of Mangaluru constituency BJP minorities morcha, Muneer Master, block president of minorities morcha, Ashraf Harekala and others were present.

Boliyar gram panchayat member, C Riyaz Boliyar, presented the programme, General secretary of Mangaluru constituency BJP minorities morcha, Muhammed Asgar Mudipu, welcomed, Mangaluru block BJP minoriteis morcha treasurer, Sharif Boliyar, proposed vote of thanks.

The meeting convened by BJP created a record of sorts with the coming together of over a hundred Muslim religious leaders. BJP activists feel that large presence of Muslim religious leaders at the BJP meeting in the district for the first time reflects the prospects of the party's undergoing a change in the future.

It is gathered that religious leader, A B Haneef Nizami, who addressed the meeting, has received three threatening calls from a foreign country. Those who called him, reportedly rebuked him for having taken part in this programme. Nizami claimed that he was also posed death threat by the callers. A complaint about this incident was filed in Konaje polcie station.