JAIPUR: Rajasthan Muslim Forum (RMF), a body of 20 organisations, on Saturday took out a protest march in the city against the ruling Congress party for not nominating any Muslim as its mayoral candidate from the Jaipur Heritage corporation.
The protesters alleged that 29 Congress councillors out of 100 in the corporation are Muslims and one among them should have been nominated for the mayoral post. Similar demand is being made by Muslim groups in Jodhpur North and Kota North corporations.
Muslim groups marched from Muslim Musafirkhana to a private hotel in Kukas where the newly elected counsellors of the Jaipur Heritage have been lodged fearing poaching by the BJP. The members of RMF wanted assurance from chief minister Ashok Gehlot that since the nomination process for the mayor is over, they should give us an assurance that after six months, the party’s mayoral candidate to step down, thus creating a space for a Muslim candidate.
The march processed from Musafirkhana in the police escort to Kukas. Here they sought permission to meet the Muslim councillors. However, Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi tried to convince the members, but in vain. He invited a delegation of five members to meet the Congress leaders. But, the meeting didn’t take place since the RMF members were adamant of holding a meeting with an 11-member committee formed to negotiate with the Congress.
Calling the entire episode meant to suppress the Muslim leadership, Sayyad Anwar Shah, member of RMF and among the key members who led the protest says that Muslims wholeheartedly voted for Congress candidates in the polls which made it possible for the Congress to make a board here.
“I would like to ask CM Sahab is our demand unfair? Have the 9% Muslim population of Rajasthan not responsible for bringing Congress to the power? Congress leaders should have rewarded the loyalty of their biggest support base by offering us the mayor post. The treatment shows that we are mere voters for the party,” said Shah.
Reacting on the controversy, Amin Kagzi, MLA Kishenpole says that party has always honoured the sentiments of the Muslims. “The deputy mayor and members of key committees will be from the minority group. The decision on mayor has been taken by the newly elected counsellors and it is too late to make any alteration in the decision,” said Kagzi, who claimed that the entire controversy is staged by leaders of other smaller parties.
He reminded community members that decision of converting single corporation into the double corporations to provide transparent governance has given much-needed representation to Muslims in the political space.