By Mumtaz Alam, India Tomorrow
New Delhi, 29 Jan 2014: For a moment, it seemed like a bombshell when a bearded Muslim stood up on his seat inside the jam-packed Vigyan Bhawan Wednesday and started speaking out – rather protesting over pathetic condition of Muslims despite announcement of schemes by the government at regular interval. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi sitting on the stage remained speechless for a while. The man said none of the government schemes for the minorities were reaching the beneficiaries.
As soon as the prime minister concluded his speech at the launch of the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO) in Vigyan Bhavan, promising more steps to empower minorities, the man in 30s, later identified as Dr Faheem Baig, stood up and shouted that none of the schemes were reaching the people.
“There is no need for a new scheme when government cannot ensure the implementation of the existing welfare schemes,” Baig shouted as Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries seated on the stage looked on.
“I have written 150 letters to you but my voice is not being heard,” Baig said before being gagged and escorted out of the conference hall.
NAWADCO is a new central public sector enterprise under the minority affairs ministry and will work towards the development of the 4.9 lakh Waqf properties in India, the largest in the world. The revenue generated from the assets would be used to benefit the Muslim community.
Sonia asks security officers not to take any action against Baig
The man could hardly speak a few sentences when some security officers deployed inside the Vigyan Bhawan reached him, shut his mouth with hand and took him out of the conference hall.
Both Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi asked Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan who was sitting on the dais to meet Baig and “hear his views and consider his petition.” While security officers were taking the man away, Sonia Gandhi appeared to be asking her security officers present there not to take any action against the man.
After the conference was over, the man talked to the media and reiterated his grievances. He also said he did nothing wrong by standing and speaking out before the PM. He said it is a democratic country and an aam aadmi has right to speak his grievances.
The man said he comes from Jamna Par area that falls in the North East Delhi – the lone district of Delhi and one of the 90 minority concentration districts in the country. He said none of the government schemes under Multi-sectoral Development Program or Prime Minister’s 15-point program are being implemented on the ground in his district.
Is the Vigyan Bhawan episode an indication that Muslims may stand up and speak out at polling booths also in April-May this year?
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With inputs from IANS
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Follow the writer on Twitter @MumtazAlam1978
