Criticising the Narendra Modi government for abolishing Haj subsidy, Delhi Social Welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said that the policies of the Centre were responsible for backwardness of Muslims in the country.
“The act of the Centre to end Haj subsidy is a wrong decision and reflective of a biased attitude against the Muslims,” he said while addressing media persons in Lucknow on Friday.
The Delhi minister said that the Constitution gave equal rights to all religions in the country. “The government spends lavishly on Kumbh Mela, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and even in Kanwar Yatra and Chhat puja, but by ending Haj subsidy it proved its bias towards Muslims,” he said.
Gautam, who was in the state capital to attend a co-ordination meeting of nine states on Minority welfare called by the Centre said that the Centre should reconsider its decision taken on the Haj subsidy.
Commenting on backwardness of Muslims, the Delhi minister said that the loan provided by National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) had stringent norms and as a result needy people do not get it.
“The present norms says that a family whose yearly income is below Rs 65,000 in rural area and Rs 1.20 lakh in urban areas would get loan which is unethical. The limit should be increased as most families do not meet this norm,” he said.
When his attention was drawn towards statements of Muslim clerics welcoming the Centre’s decision, the AAP leader blamed the media for confusing Muslim leaders. “Muslim leaders are confused and the media played a big role in making the issue look small,” he said.
Gautam also blamed the Centre as well as the UP government for misusing funds for publicity for yesterday’s meet. “Entire Lucknow was covered with hoardings for yesterday’s meet which was an unnecessary expenditure for such a small meeting,” he stated.
The Delhi minister also demanded that ‘No Detention’ policy in education system should be abolished immediately for the sake of uplift of Muslims in the education sector.
“There is around 80 per cent drop out of Muslims after class eight only due to ‘No Exam’ policy and the students get no education at all till eighth standard leading to dropout. Several states have demanded to abolish ‘No Detention’ policy, but the Centre was not at all interested,” he said.
Skill development courses launched for minorities by the Centre were also applicable when a youth had passes class 10 or 12. “But as Muslims youths do not cross class eight, hence they miss the courses and denied training,” he claimed.
Gautam said that he had raised these issues in yesterday’s meet but the Union minister and officials were not at all interested.
The AAP minister refused to speak on denial of Rajya Sabha ticket to party leader Kumar Viswas. “Viswas is one of the senior leader of the party but the decision on the Rajya Sabha ticket was taken by party high command,” he said.