Waqf Board chairman Wajahat Mirza appointed Maharashtra Congress's minority cell chairman

MUMBAI: Maharashtra State Congress has made MLC and Waqf Board chairman Wajahat Mirza party’s minority cell chairman in the state.
Mirza’s appointment as party’s chairman (minority cell) is being seen as an attempt to restore the minorities’ faith in the Congress. Many corporations in the state, including BMC, are slated to go for polls in the next few months and Congress wants to keep its vote bank intact.
The minorities, especially Muslims, have traditionally voted for Congress and NCP in the state.
“This is a huge responsibility the party has given me. Many corporations will go for polls. Besides, the minorities want their grievances to be addressed. I will tour the states and ensure that the welfare schemes for the minorities are implemented,” said Mirza.
Many individuals and NGOs have welcomed the appointment of Wajahat Mirza as chairman of Congress’s minority cell in the state. Mumbai Congress vice-chairman (minority cell) Haji Mudassar Patel said that a young, dynamic leader like Wajahat Mirza is expected to bring the party closer to the minorities. After the defeat of senior leader and former minister Arif Naseem Khan with a small margin in 2019 assembly elections, the party received a setback.
“Wajahat Mirza is expected to not only restore the Muslims’ faith in the Congress but also stop their loyalties shifting to party’s like MIM and Shiv Sena. Of late these parties have made attempts to get the support of the Muslims. Since his work as an MLA and Waqf Board’s chairman has been appreciated, it is expected he will live up to the expectations,” said Patel.
President of the highly reputed institution Anjuman-I-Islam, Dr Zaheer Kazi, said that at this critical juncture the minorities, especially Muslims, feel they are being ignored. He said that our dream of India becoming ‘Vishwa Guru’ will not materialize if Muslims lag behind. He suggested some sort of affirmative action is needed to help Muslims come back on the path of progress. “Wajahat Mirza is young and very dynamic. He has the capacity to get many grievances of the Muslims and other minorities addressed,” said Dr Kazi.