CM takes over minority welfare portfolio, Church welcomes determination
3 min read
Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a deft transfer aimed toward profitable over the Christian group that has been crying foul over ‘imbalance’ in disbursal of minority welfare funds, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has taken over the minority welfare portfolio. Minister V Abdurahiman was broadly tipped to deal with the portfolio together with Wakf and Hajj pilgrimage.
But Pinarayi noticed the swearing-in of a brand new cabinet and contemporary allocation of portfolios as the appropriate time to achieve out to the Christian group that was peeved at shedding out a significant chunk of the minority welfare funds.During UDF authorities’s stint from 2011-16, Minority Welfare developed as a full-fledged ministry and was helmed by Muslim League chief Manjalamkuzhy Ali. In the earlier LDF authorities, the portfolio was dealt with by KT Jaleel.
The change of guard has been welcomed by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), the apex physique of bishops of assorted Catholic rites.“It was a long-pending demand of a major section among the minority communities that the chief minister should handle the minority welfare portfolio. We welcome the new decision and express our gratitude to the chief minister,” KCBC spokesperson Fr Jacob Palackapilly stated.
However, Pinarayi clarified that he took over the portfolio as a result of common opinion that it was higher if the division was dealt with by the chief minister himself. Asked concerning the Muslim League’s opposition in direction of the transfer, Pinarayi stated portfolio allocation was not that occasion’s prerogative. “As far as the Muslim community is concerned, they have trust in me and this government,” he stated.
Meanwhile, former minister KT Jaleel denied any kind of discrimination in fund allocation throughout his stint.
“The 80:20 ratio is followed only in state scholarships instituted on the basis of the Paloli committee recommendations to alleviate backwardness of the Muslim community. This is not applicable for any other schemes of the ministry or in the disbursal of Central funds meant for minority welfare,” Jaleel advised The New Indian Express.
BJP bid to woo Church prompts CM’s determination
The LDF had already begun makes an attempt to assuage Church leaders within the run-up to the native physique elections by appointing a fee led by Justice (Retd) JB Koshy to check the backwardness confronted by Christians within the state. This, based on political observes, helped the LDF in lots of Christian pockets within the meeting elections.
Another issue that prompted Pinaryi’s transfer was the BJP’s makes an attempt to champion the reason for Christians. Mizoram Governor and former BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai had facilitated a gathering between leaders of three outstanding Church teams with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a number of months earlier than the meeting elections. The Church heads reportedly apprised Modi that Christian college students had been getting solely 20% of the minority scholarship quantity.
“A mere change of guard does not mean the LDF’s policy towards minorities, especially Christians, has changed. The 80:20 ratio in distribution of welfare funds among Muslim and Christian communities should first be amended,” stated BJP state common secretary George Kurian. Meanwhile, former minister Jaleel denied any kind of discrimination in fund allocation throughout his stint.
IUML SORE OVER TAKING MINORITY AFFAIRS BACK FROM ABDURAHIMANIUML leaders on Friday got here out in opposition to the choice of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take again the portfolio of minority affairs from V Abdurahiman. Though the portfolio was earlier allotted to Abdurahiman who’s from a minority group, the chief minister took it over reportedly to appease one other minority group. IUML nationwide common secretary P Okay Kunhalikutty stated that, taking again the portfolio from Abdurahiman is tantamount to insulting the group.
