Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 28: Gulam Ali Khatana, MP Rajya Sabha today said that Muslims must come out openly in support of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi led BJP Government and not continue to be misled by mischievous propaganda by the opposition parties who have exploited them for past seven decades.
Khatana also urged Muslims to take benefit of the welfare schemes launched by the Government and said that Muslims have witnessed an era of peace and development under the present Government.
Addressing a largely attended meeting of the Dodhi Gujjars at tehsil Marh, Khatana said that for past seven decades, various political parties have exploited Muslim community especially the Gujjars and Pasmanda Samaj in Jammu and Kashmir and used them only for vote bank politics. But the plight of Gujjars and Pasmanda Samaj remained the same and various schemes for their welfare remained on papers only, he said adding during past eight years in power, the Narendra Modi Government has demonstrated its intent and working on ground for the welfare of Muslims and Pasmanda Samaj by extending the benefits of the minority schemes to the last man in the row.
“It is for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that a Gujjar Muslim from amongst you, the common and underprivileged section, has been nominated to the highest house of Indian Parliamentary democracy. I belong to a semi-nomadic Gujjar farmer family and have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha as Member Parliament,” said Khatana and assured that he would continue to raise the voice of underprivileged and downtrodden sections of the society.
Khatana said that during past over a month, he has been felicitated by thousands of people not only in Jammu and Kashmir but across country and the messages expressing happiness on his nomination to Rajya Sabha. He said that plight of Pasmanda Samaj can be transformed through education and for this Central Government has launched many major initiatives. He urged the people, if they have any problem, they can approach him any time and will be available 24×7.
Earlier, Satar Din Dodhi Gujjar, Ashan Din, Dr. Bagh Ali welcomed him.
Prominent among those present were Surinder Kumar, Chairman BDC, Marh, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, BJP Mandal Pradhan, Sadak Ali, Panch and Saraj Din.
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