www.expressindia.com - Weather | Horoscope | Stocks | RSS
expressindia web city
HomeBlogsCricketAstrology TendersClassifieds Reader Comments Hotels
Sign In / Register | Archive
Expressindia » Story

Convention on minorities to begin today

Font Size

Mohammed Safi Shamsi

Posted: Jan 05, 2008 at 0000 hrs IST

Kolkata, January 4 Are the minorities losing their trust in the ruling CPM? After the Nandigram stalemate and the controversy over Taslima Nasreen’s stay in the city, it is time for the party bosses to take stock of their position in the political scenario in the state.

The CPM’s state committee is holding a special convention on Saturday to discuss the development of minorities and the role the party members are expected to play in it.

The convention, a first of its kind organised by the party in the state, is aimed at highlighting the role the party played to uplift the minorities, especially Muslims. An advertisement published in the CPM organ Ganashakti on Friday states that the state committee is holding a “central convention” to discuss “Minorities development and our responsibilities”.

While party’s Muslim leaders — at all levels — are aware of the convention, they are extra cautious not to divulge details.“I don’t know what’s on agenda. It is a party decision and I am not in a position to comment,” said Abdus Sattar, the state’s minister for minorities development and welfare and madrasa education.

The minister for land and land reforms, Abdur Rezzak Molla, said the convention is meant for discussing issues concerning the minorities.

“Biman Bose (CPM’s state secretary) and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee are expected to speak at the convention. I am not aware who the other speakers are.”

Party sources told The Indian Express that the convention has two aspects. The first is to highlight the status of minorities before the CPM came to power and what the party has done during its three-decade rule. The second is to highlight what the CPM wants to do in future.

A booklet, carrying a comparative study of the status of minorities (Muslims) of the time preceding the CPM rule, will be released.

The speakers are expected to criticise the Sachar findings and pinpoint the CPM-led government’s achievements concerning minorities in departments like land reforms, panchayat and madrasa education. While the party leaders maintain it is a gathering to delve deeply into minorities’ issues for better understanding, anti-CPM observers believe it is a countdown to the coming panchayat elections, where minorities have a significant, if not prominent, role to play.

Discuss this story on expressindia forums
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.

Latest News

Business

Showbiz

Sports

Rushdie cancels India visit, says 'paid assassins' out to kill him

Narendra Modi takes Sadbhavna Mission to Godhra

Age row: SC dismisses appeal supportive of Army chief's view

Law Commission for making honour killings non-bailable offence

Oz MP tells immigrants to learn English to stop racism

Uma Bharti's comments on Rahul not important: Azad

Digvijay rubbishes reports of quitting as UP poll in-charge

More
© 2011 The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved
Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Express Group | Site Map