Mohammed Hussein Khan (62) took over as the new chairman of the Maharashtra’s Minority Commission on Friday.
What are your plans as Minority Commission chief?
I am committed to ensuring that the community does not feel discrimination. I will ensure that the fruits of development reach all minorities and they do not feel neglected. There have been incidents where Muslims have felt threatened or discriminated against. My priority will be to ensure such feelings vanish from their minds and all their problems are addressed by the state. My priority is to act as a bridge between the minorities and the government.
Communal conflagration has increased in the state since the BJP came to power. Your predecessor said that Muslims were targeted in a planned manner at Lalbaug. How do you plan to address these issues?
There have been communal incidents, including the most recent one in Pachora, which is in my home district of Jalgaon. I plan to hit the ground running and undertake a tour of the state starting from Pachora, which I will visit on Monday. The Commission will undertake a holistic survey of the reasons for these incidents. We will ensure that the strictest action is taken against perpetrators of violence. However, we also have to be fair and look at both sides of the picture. There is no point in deliberately blaming any particular community.
You face a challenging task of addressing the problems of minorities while being a member of the BJP. There is a lot of distrust among minorities against the BJP. How do you plan to address this?
In the larger scheme of life, it does not matter what political affiliation you have. What is more important is that your heart needs to be in the right place. If people are getting justice, I do not think they will have a reason to complain. A person, when he embarks on a journey, wants to have the assurance that the driver who is driving his car knows his job. The BJP is an excellent driver. It has made a person like me who has worked in the community as head of the Minority Commission. The minister of my department, Eknath Khadse, is also sensitive to the issues of the community and he understands the problems. We have just begun and our work will speak for itself. I am sure any fears that some people have against us will be dispelled seeing the way we work.
You say the fears of the community are unfounded but your predecessor was shunted out because the government did not like the way he commissioned a survey of Muslims in jail.
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I would like to say that his removal had nothing to do with his commissioning of the survey. There is a saying in Hindi “Jiska shasan uska prashasan”. That rule was followed here as well. A person holding allegiance to the previous government was removed and I was appointed in his place.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
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Mohammed Hussein Khan (62) took over as the new chairman of the Maharashtra’s Minority Commission on Friday.
