By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: By March 30, 2009 the Central Government had sent Bihar Government Rs 30 crore as compensation for Bhagalpur riot victims. It is four months but 22 injured and families of 844 slain are still awaiting the fund – they don’t know how long the wait will be. Maybe till near the next assembly elections so that the JDU-BJP combine Government of Nitish Kumar could claim minority votes.
The first installment of Rs 10 crore was sent to the Bihar government on 28 January. Within 45 days the amount was to be distributed and certificates of the distribution were to be sent to the centre but state government did not pay the amount to the victims. Yet, the central government dispatched the rest amount of Rs 19.81 crore on 30 March.
Seeing the dreadful condition of victims of infamous anti-Muslim Bhagalpur riot (1989) Central Government had decided to provide them with especial package to bring them on the track of normal life. For that central government asked Bihar government to prepare a list of the victims.
Bihar government sent a list of 844 slain and 22 injured people to the center. On the basis of that, central government allotted around Rs 30 crore for the welfare of riot victims.
It is to be noted that central government decided to pay Bhagalpur riot (1989) victims on the pattern of anti-Sikh riot (1984) which is 3.50 lakh for family of each slain and 1.25 lakh for each injured.
Four months have passed and victims are yet to receive the relief funds. Moreover, the monthly pension of Rs, 2500 which was granted by state government for the riot victims also did not reach them for last seven months. Therefore, they are in pitiable condition.
The president of Muslim United Front, Mr. Abu Qaiser expressed his anguish over this behavior of the state government and blamed that it is playing a political game over the fund.
Notably, Mr. Abu Qaiser made much effort for the Bhagalpur riot victims and played a vital role to bring the justice and to grant relief package for them.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Mr. Abu Qaiser said: “Bihar government either eating the interest of that central relief amount or planning to take political benefit of that in next assembly election by distributing the fund on that occasion.”
“Nitish Kumar claims to be well wisher of minority community and every day announces various kinds of scheme for the welfare of Muslims but hardly any of them is implemented. When he is not interested to implement center’s schemes for the welfare of minority then how he can implement his own welfare project for them?” Mr. Abu Qaiser asked.
“We will not tolerate the further emotional exploitation of Muslim community. Therefore, we are going to launch a movement which will start from Bhagalpur on 30 July to disclose the fact before the community that Nitish Kumar is also trying to use Muslim community as vote-bank. We will hand over memorandum to the Governor of Bihar and also send it to President of India demanding to intervene in the matter and to take action against state government” he said.
Mr. Abu Qaiser also alleged that Bihar government sent the list of only 844 slain and 22 injured people while reality is beyond that.
“ Nitish government prepared many schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Castes to bring them to developed line but he did not include Muslims while 32 castes among them deserve inclusion in those schemes” he said.
Mr. Abu Qaiser requested all Muslims to work together for Bhagalpur riot victims saying that it is our religious and moral responsibility to fight for victims.
“All Muslim organizations should come forward to bring the actual right of Bhagalpur riot victims because their condition is very bad. They have lost all the things in carnage and now they are forced to beg. State government cried during recently concluded Lok Sabha election about Bhagalpur riot victims but now is mum. So it is clear that all were only for political gain” he added.