The controversial national vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (minority cell) Shoukat Mohammed Khan has been named as the chairman of the Mutawwali Committee. The decision has spread displeasure among the Muslim leaders associated with the saffron party for long.
A senior party leader on condition of anonymity told The Pioneer that if the decision to appoint Khan was not rolled back, the three chairmen of the total five minority institutions of the State might tender their resignation from their posts and the party. Shoukat was the younger brother of Anwar Mohammed Khan, chairman of the MP State Minorities Commission.
BJP State Minority Cell president Hidayatullah Sheikh said, ‘“The appointment has been made without taking the minority cell into confidence and the cell workers and Muslim leaders associated with the party for long are not happy over the decision.’” Sheikh further said, ‘“I am in touch with the leaders angry over the decision, we have decided to meet the State president, organisational general secretary and the Chief Minister and would demand roll back of the decision.’”
‘“If the party organisation fails to consider our demand and stays with its decision to impose Khan than they could take some big decision,’” he said. When asked whether the minority leaders can take any major decision in this regard, the State minority president remained tight lipped but he indicated that some of the big Muslim names associated with the BJP may not only resign from the posts they are also considering to quit the saffron party.
However, Sheikh was hopeful that the party might not let it happen at this point of time when the assembly elections are just three months away and Muslim votes are a necessity for the BJP to return to power.