Azmi questions delay in constituting minority bodies

On the other hand,Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has made appointments to 30-odd other government bodies. The appointments are done usually with the consent of the ministers concerned.

In his letter dated July 4,Azmi said that people were asking for reasons behind the delay in appointments to bodies directly related to Muslims,including the State Minorities Commission. He requested Mulayam to get these bodies constituted,else inform him about the hindrances,which can be communicated to the minority community.

“I cannot understand the reason for holding these posts vacant for so long. If there is any problem related to any person,it should be communicated. We cannot keep these posts vacant just to please a particular person. In 16 months,no eligible person could be found to fill these posts! Muslims are asking for the reasons behind the delay. The state government should either constitute them or explain the reasons,” Azmi told The Indian Express.

Khan is in-charge of the Minority Welfare Department and thus responsible for appointments in the State Minorities Commission,UP Minorities Financial and Development Corporation,UP Waqf Development Corporation,Uttar Pradesh Madarsa Education Board and Shia Central Board of Waqfs.

The Chief Minister,who holds charge of the Department of Language,is responsible for appointments in Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Committee.

All these bodies have been headless since the resignation by their previous office-bearers in March 2012 after the change of government.

Riyaz Ahmed,Minister of State for Khadi and Village Industries,who is also state president of the SP’s minority cell,admitted that the delay in appointments is sending the wrong message. “I have written at least 10 letters to Mulayam and also personally communicated it several times. I have been assured that it will be done soon. I cannot comment on the reason for keeping these posts vacant,which is well known to everyone,” Riyaz said.

The issue has also been raised by Syed Ahmed Bukhari,Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid,and Bareilly cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan during their recent meetings with Mulayam. “One person holds eight departments and no appointments are being done on these minority bodies,it shows the apathy of the SP government,” Bukhari said.

Tauqeer Raza said that Muslims are feeling cheated as many of them would have been adjusted in these bodies and could have done something for the welfare of the community. Among the bodies which are lying vacant,the State Minorities Commission is the most important one as it is responsible for the protection of constitutional rights of minorities and advises the state government regarding problems and issues of the minorities. The commission comprises the posts of a chairman,two vice-chairman and 17 members — all of them vacant.

The Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy,which is headed by the Chief Minister and is responsible for the promotion of Urdu language and other activities like organising mushairas,publishing Urdu books,etc,got a vice-chairman Yasmeen Usmani hailing from Badaun in April but his appointment was revoked within two days. Sources claimed that it was done at the behest of Azam Khan.

The Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Committee. which provides financial assistance to budding Urdu writers for publishing their books,scholarship to Urdu research scholars and organises seminars for Urdu promotion,is also defunct. Other defunct bodies include UP Minorities Financial and Development Corporation (UPMFDC),the UP Waqf Development Corporation and UP Madarsa Education Board.

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