Union minister of state for minority affairs K Rahman Khan on Saturday gave a clarion call to Muslims to shed negativism and develop a positive attitude.
Addressing a gathering of youngsters at the opening of commercial complex-II at New Muslim Hostel complex on Kantharaja Urs road in the city, Rahman Khan — also a former inmate of the hostel — made an attempt to infuse pro-development feelings among the community.
Referring to the word ‘minority’, as Muslims are considered, Rahman Khan said: “it has been creating ‘I am weak feeling’, as a majority of the community members say”. The minister said: “‘weak’ is always the state of mind. Instead, develop a strong attitude and good will follow.”
On the status of Muslims as minority, the minister also called the community to consider themselves as a majority, as they form the second largest population in the nation. He also clarified that the status of majority and minority is just a societal set up.
The minister informed that there were several programmes for the benefit of minority alone, yet the needy is deprived of his/her due share. He attributed it to the people who have been proving a hurdle, by misusing the programme. In the field of education alone, meritorious students of the community are entitled for scholarship from primary to higher education.
The minister appealed to the NGOs working for the welfare of Muslims and Christians to create awareness among the sections about available schemes of the government.
Citing his own example, where he rose to the level of Union minister, Rahman Khan advised the youth to grow as individuals who strive for the welfare of society.
The minister promised to do his mite for the plans of the hostel management to start a Central School.
Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait, president of the hostel management and former VC of Goa and Mangalore Universities B Sheikh Ali, Dr Khamruddin and Isaaq and others were present.
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