It is an unwritten tradition that the Minorities Affairs Dept. is allotted to a Minister belonging to Muslim Minority Community since the Dept. has to deal with Wakf cases and other issues pertaining to Muslim Minority. All the previous Central and State Governments followed this tradition in the past but the new govt. of Maharashtra led by BJP entrusted the Dept. of Minorities Welfare to a non-minority minister Mr. Khadse. The BJP Govt. is perhaps making an attempt to lay down a new tradition to promote a new culture. As opposition leader, Mr. Khadse in the Congress and NCP led Govt. of Maharashtra, raised several issues concerning illegal possessions on Wakf lands. He had also raised the issue of selling wakf property to a famous businessman Mr. Mukesh Ambani at throw away price in Mumbai for the construction of his palatial mansion. Perhaps this is the reason for his selection as minorities’ minister. It was presumed that Mr. Pasha Patil, Senior BJP leader from Lathur would get this portfolio. There was also a rumor that the portfolio of Minorities Welfare could be given to a person belonging to Jain community. Against all these rumors, Mr. Fadnavis allotted the portfolio of Minorities Welfare to Mr. Khadse. Muslims are surprised at this decision of the CM of Maharashtra.
Mr. Aleem Faizi, Chairman of Noble Education and Welfare Society welcomed the step taken by the CM for allotting the portfolio of Minorities Welfare to Mr. Khadse which is a positive change. He told that in the past the portfolio of Minorities Welfare was allotted to Muslims but they could not protect Wakf properties. They functioned only as the rubber stamps of the Govt. Govt. used to take all the decisions behind the scene. The persons holding the portfolio of Minorities Welfare were not in a position to assert. The Govt. also never used to heed to their stand. Mr. Aleem Faizi further told that the Dept. of Minorities Welfare of the Erstwhile Govt. of Congress did not do any positive action for the welfare of minorities. The issues pertaining to the establishment of Regional Center of Aligarh Muslim University in Maharashtra, formation of Maulana Azad Minorities Finance Corporation and Wakf Museum are the issues which have been pending with the previous governments for a long time. It is expected that the present minorities minister will not function as the puppet of the Government of Maharashtra.
–Siasat News