After breaking the bread with Catholic community, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar seems to be building bridges with Muslims who apparently never had a truck whatsoever with BJP in the coastal state.
“Vote for BJP next time only if we manage to prove ourselves. If we don’t than you have all the right to kick us out of power,” Parrikar told a gathering of 1,000-odd prominent Muslim leaders organised by NGO, Goa Muslim Forum (GMF) yesterday evening at Gomantak Maratha Hall.
Sharing dais with the community leaders at the event in a view to list out the issues faced by the community, which forms less than 10 per cent of the state population, Parrikar appealed to the Muslim community to come forward and apply for government jobs in various departments including police so that they can avail of 7-8 percent reservation in the state jobs.
“State will induct 1,000-1,500 new constables for which the process will start by mid-April. I will send you the advertisements. Please ask the youths from your community to apply for these posts. Government cannot recruit anyone in job until and unless he applies for it,” the chief minister who also holds Home portfolio said.
Observers say the welcome given by the Muslim community members to any saffron chief minister was unprecedented one.
“Few of my Muslim brethren were upset because we (GMF) were getting associated with the BJP chief minister. Congress in the past has cautioned us against BJP by calling it a communal party. But now we have posed our faith in BJP who is led by Parrikar in the state. We are sure, he will not let us down,” said Iqbal Mohiddin, Chairman of All India Milli Council’s Goa chairman.
Responding to various questioned posed by Muslim community members, Parrikar stated that he was in the process of forming an advisory council, that would guide him on various issues.
“Few representatives from the Muslim community will be part of the council so that the issues faced by the community could be discussed and solved by the government,” Parrikar said.
The chief minister assured all possible help in education sector so that the minority-run institutions can impart educate to more number of students.
“Why Muslim community lags behind is due to (lack of) education. Those who want to get educated should be given proper encouragement,” the former IIT-ian said, adding that those involved in small-scale businesses like selling vegetables could be brought under the ambit of the ‘Chief Minister’s Rojgar Yojna’.
In an apparent bid to reach out to Muslims, Parrikar further said that the facility of concessional travel that is currently applicable to pilgrims visiting places like Ajmer, Shirdi and Valankani, can also be extended for Haj pilgrims.
When pointed out that the quota for Haj pilgrimage has been reduced for Goa, Parrikar said that the state government can help sending people to Haj by granting them concession in travel. “We can work out the modalities,” he added.
–PTI