Hyderabad, October 05 (Mubashiruddin Khurram): “When we are given certain responsibilities, we become mum and can’t utter a single word as we are helpless and disappointed.”
These were the words of none other than the minister for minority affairs Mr. Salman Khursheed. He was speaking in a seminar organized by three leading Urdu newspapers of India i.e. Siasat, Inquilab and Azad Hind.
He said that he is in such a state where neither he could say anything nor do anything. A common Muslim is far better than a minister like me as he can raise his voice against any injustice. Those who are powerful, it doesn’t mean they have a magic wand in their hands.
A common is always better to get almost all his demands met sooner or later. There are certain issues, which are normally discussed in-camera and could not be revealed. He clearly said that various social organizations are better than any politician or minister because the people associated with such organizations always make it a point to address the problems of the people.
For this he gave the reference of Krishna Commission which is still in the cold storage and Congress government has failed to implement it as it has many hindrances to do so for which there is no way out. Mr. Khursheed suggested that Muslims should not get disappointed even when their goals are not met by ministers, political leaders and parties but their trust on the democratic structure of the country should remain intact.
As this structure guarantees freedom of speech apart from other liberties. The very instance of this structure is he himself and the on-going seminar where we are speaking fearlessly. This is the responsibility of every citizen to safeguard the structure of democracy. No one can say in this country that democracy is on the wane. Even after reaching to the top post of a minister, an elected member or representative of the government feels suffocated.
He specially spoke about Gujarat where all hopes from the judiciary are vanished. Then too Muslims are advised not to lose hopes because disappointment is next to ungodliness. The report related to Ishrat Jahan encounter brought a ray of hope for Muslims.
We should not take any decision in haste but should wait for the right time. Mr. Khursheed said whatever be the Congress is, Muslins could rely on it. It requires a long battle to bring all the facts to the fore. For this even sacrifices are made either by individual, party or the government.
It is up to the public to term this statement as his diplomacy or cowardice because certain places, certain functions need different treatment where one has to be very choosy and tricky. He said that he is representing Muslims as their advocate and fight their cases but the decision is not in his hand.
He was of the opinion that all politicians are not alike plus in a democracy, the government and the opposition is not enough but the it is the people who are most important as they can say anything against or in favour of the government which opposition leaders dare not.
Wajid_siasat@yahoo.in