Uttarakhand Congress minorities department head Manzur Ahmed Baig has demanded that the lone Muslim MlA of Uttarakhand, Furkan Ahmed from Piran Kaliyar constituency should be given a berth in the State Cabinet. Baig stated while addressing the media in the presence of Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kishore Upadhyay at the Congress Bhawan here on Thursday. Upadhyay, on his part, assured that the issues raised by Baig would be communicated to the Chief Minister.
Baig said, “Furkan Ahmed is the sole Muslim MlA in the State at present so we will request Chief Minister Harish Rawat through the PCC chief to make Ahmed a Cabinet Minister. Apart from this we would also request that action be taken against district magistrates who have ignored instructions even of the Chief Minister. For example, the horse owners in Nainital have long been demanding stables and shelters but despite necessary instructions being issued by the State, no action has been taken in this regard yet. Apart from this, we also want awareness camps to be held at the block, city and district level to inform the minorities about the various Government schemes.”
Baig also said various schemes announced by successive State Governments for the welfare of minorities were not being implemented effectively. A list of such schemes would be submitted to the Chief Minister, he said. Accusing the Central Government of introducing cut backs in schemes and funds for minority welfare, Baig said the PCC minority department would raise awareness among the minorities with an eye on the 2017 Assembly elections. The PCC chief said focus now would be laid on achieving balance in the Cabinet. Conferences were slated to be organised for the minorities by the PCC in Garhwal and Kumaon regions, added Upadhyay.