By Mumtaz Alam, India Tomorrow,
New Delhi, 30 Jan 2014: It was exactly 10:30 am when Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh finished his speech and proceeded towards his chair. He had barely taken his seat when Unani medical practitioner and RTI activist Dr Faheem Baig, who was sitting about 10 rows behind the media row wherein I was seated along with senior editors and journalists, stood up and started speaking in such a bold voice that the entire Vigyan Bhawan packed with more than 500 people became completely silent.
Wazeer-e Azam sahib, meharbani karke ab aur kisi naye scheme ka elaan mat kijiye…Mr. Prime Minister, kindly don’t announce any new scheme. Your earlier schemes have not yet reached the beneficiaries. Why is your government announcing scheme after scheme? I come from an area in Delhi where none of your minority welfare schemes have been implemented on the ground,” the man looking in late 30s could speak when four-five security officers came up to him, shut his mouth and dragged him away. When he was speaking the entire hall had turned towards him turning their back towards the stage which was featuring, besides the PM, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan and National Minority Commission chairperson Wajahat Habibullah. The occasion was the launch of the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO).
When Baig was being taken away I immediately turned my face to the stage and I could notice what many couldn’t. I saw Sonia Gandhi calling her security officer and telling them something and security officer rushing towards the exit gate from where Baig was taken out. I felt, and I was right, Baig has done his job. I told two senior Urdu editors sitting on my left hand about the gesture of Sonia Gandhi that she has apparently told security officers not to arrest Beg and not to take any action against him. She also told something to K Rahman Khan who was sitting on her right hand.
‘Silent’ PM acts within an hour
While protesting Baig said he has written 150 letters to Prime Minister’s Office drawing their attention to the pathetic condition in Muslim populated Jafarabad area of New Delhi but all in vain. But thankfully, his one-minute shouting has now worked within an hour.
At 11:13 am, less than one hour of the incident, the twitter handle of Prime Minister’s Office carried this message: PM asks Minority Affairs Minister to meet the Vigyan Bhavan petitioner who spoke following his speech; hear his views & consider petition.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is famous for his honesty and ‘disturbing’ silence. In last 10 years of his regime he wore silent attitude on various occasions when the minority community was shouting.
It is great that the PM has broken his silence and indicated to act fast. Will the PM ask his cabinet and the Minority Ministry to examine the actual implementation of his minority welfare schemes across the country and to note the genuine grievances of the community?
—
Follow the writer on Twitter @MumtazAlam1978
