Didi only promises, fails to deliver, say Muslim leaders

As the Trinamool Congress celebrates its 15th foundation day, members of the minority community — the party's vote-bank — said that they have been neglected by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has failed to keep her promises.

Furfura Darbar Sharif director Toha Siddiqui alleged that unlike what the TMC had promised in its election manifesto, it is merely duplicating what the CPM has done so far. "The chief minister claims that she has done 90 per cent of the work promised, I strongly oppose this statement of her's. I have doubts if she has done even two per cent of the work she had promised. She keeps promising things for Muslims and in the process creates a divide between Hindus and Muslims. Mamata promised 20 per cent reservation for Muslims but that never happened," he said, adding that the day she inaugurated Eco Park at Rajarhat, Mamata was supposed to lay the foundation stone of Haj House a couple of blocks away, but she never turned up.

Maulana Shafique Qasmi, imam of Nakhoda Masjid, said, "Even if she did 50 per cent of what she promised, it would have been good for us. But she only inaugurated projects and did no work on those. In a recent police recruitment, there were hardly any Muslims," he said.

Muslim leader Qazi Fazlur Rahman added, "A lot of jobs and houses were promised to Muslims but nothing materialised. Although land for Haj Tower and Aliyah University were acquired, no work was done," he said.

On April 3, 2012, Mamata had announced an honorarium of

Rs 2,500 for imams, but many like Md Mahroof Salafi, the imam of Jaima Masjid, al-hadis, Marquis Street, had not even submitted an application. "I have not submitted the form because the imam's job is to lead prayers, teach and preach. Pay is immaterial," he said. Ayub Raza, imam of Mansuri Masjid, Watgunge, Kidderpore, complained of not receiving his stipend for the last two months. "I have not received any honorarium for the last two months. The chief minister has only made promises," he said further.

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