Siddiqullah Chowdhury

Siddiqullah Chowdhury is an Indian politician from the state of West Bengal. He is the representative of Mangalkot constituency in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly as a member of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) party. He is also the president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's West Bengal branch.

Siddiqullah Chowdhury
Siddiqullah Chowdhury
Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
16 May 2016
Preceded bySajahan Chowdhury
ConstituencyMangalkot
Personal details
NationalityIndian
Political partyAll India Trinamool Congress
Other political
affiliations		All India United Democratic Front[1]
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
Alma materDarul Uloom Deoband[2]
OccupationPolitician

Political career

Chowdhury contested the 1984[3] and 1989[4] Lok Sabha elections from Katwa constituency as a candidate of the Indian National Congress. Chowdhury has become a prominent figure in state politics during Nandigram Movement.[5][6] Chowdhury also contested from the Basirhat seat as a candidate of the All India United Democratic Front in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.[7]

In January 2016, Chowdhury hinted at the possibility of his Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind party entering into a pre-poll alliance for the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections.[8][9]

In March 2016, it was announced that Chowdhury would contest from the Mangalkot constituency as a candidate of the Trinamool Congress party.[2] He said that the Mamata Banerjee-led government has worked for the development of minorities.[8] He won the election by defeating his nearest rival, Sahajahan Chowdhury of Communist Party of India (Marxist), by nearly twelve thousand votes.[10][11] He was subsequently made a cabinet minister and given the portfolio of minister of state with independent charge in mass education, library, and parliamentary affairs.[12] He became one of the seven Muslims who was made a cabinet minister.[13]

In December 2016, Chowdhury stated in an interview with the Indian Express that only 1.5% of West Bengal's population was using the government libraries. In response, Chowdhury said that the government was taking steps to "turn people back towards books and libraries". He also said that journals, magazines, and books about agriculture must be present in libraries funded by state government.[14]

Views

Indian Muslims

Chowdhury is of the opinion that Muslims should not learn patriotism from other citizens of the country or from the government.[15] According to him, if Muslims had not participated in the Indian freedom struggle, then it would have taken "another 100 years" for India to become independent.[15] He said that if India became a Hindu state, then India would collapse.[15]

Government of Bangladesh

Chowdhury is critical of the Sheikh Hasina led government of Bangladesh.[16] He has criticised the government for their treatment of the Razakars (an anti Bangladeshi paramilitary force organised by Pakistani army during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971) whom he has hailed as "religious leaders".[16] He also said that assaulting pious citizens was a part of the Bangladesh government's conspiracy.[17]

Triple Talaq

In August 2016, the Supreme Court of India banned the controversial practise of triple talaq (oral instant divorce). Reacting to it, Chowdhury said that the practise was an integral part of Islam. He termed the verdict of supreme court as "unconstitutional" and criticised it for interfering in Islamic laws. He also said that Muslims would continue to follow the sharia (Islamic laws).[18] Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary Rahul Sinha demanded his arrest as according to him, Chowdhury refused to abide by the laws of the country.[19]

Controversies

On 17 May 2017, Ebela reported that Chowdhury was using a red beacon on his car to avoid traffic congestion after a Central BJP Govt. order[20][21][22] the previous month banned its use. He defended himself by contrasting his usage of the beacon with that of Noor ur Rahman Barkati, imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque, who had previously been spotted using it. Chowdhury said that unlike Barkati, his beacon was given to him by the state government and he had not received any notice from that authority to discontinue its use.[23][24]

Regarding Barkati, Chowdhury commented that if he is to continue to live in India, he must follow Indian rules. He also stated his belief that Barkati would obtain a political position in Pakistan.[25] Consequently, Barkati was sacked from his post.[26]

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References
  1. সংবাদদাতা, নিজস্ব. "নন্দীগ্রামের বরফ গলিয়ে দিল সংখ্যালঘুর অঙ্কই". Anandabazar.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  2. "Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader fighting on TMC ticket is crorepati". The Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  3. "General (8th Lok Sabha) Election Results India". Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  4. "General (9th Lok Sabha) Election Results India". Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  5. "আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা - রাজ্য". archives.Anandabazar.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  6. "মন্ত্রী হচ্ছেন রেজ্জাক-সিদ্দিকুল্লা, দল পাল্টেও মন্দ বরাত উদয়নের - Eisamay". IndiaTimes.com. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  7. "AIUDF announces list of 8, Siddiqullah claims Mollah 'ready to cooperate'". Indian Express. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  8. "Not all have been achieved for minorities, but Mamata Banerjee is a strong force, says Siddiqullah Chowdhury". Indian Express. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  9. "জোটের আশা সিদ্দিকুল্লাহের [Siddiqullah expects an alliance]". Anandabazar. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  10. "Mangalkot (West Bengal) Election Results 2016". Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  11. "LIST: 59 Muslim MLA elected in West Bengal assembly elections". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  12. "Bengal portfolios: Mamata keeps home, retains Mitra as finance minister". First Post. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  13. "Seven Muslims in West Bengal ministry". Siasat. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  14. "West Bengal: only 1.5% of state population using government libraries, says minister". Indian Express. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  15. ""হিন্দু রাষ্ট্র করার চেষ্টা হলে ভারত টুকরো টুকরো হবে" ["India would break into pieces if it is made a Hindu state]". Daily Naya Diganta. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  16. "A Dangerous Appointment". Daily Pioneer. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  17. "15 Muslim orgns in WB warn Bangladesh to stop atrocities on religious people". Two Circles. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  18. "Supreme Court judges have no right to interfere in Islamic customs: Trinamool minister on triple talaq". India Today. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  19. "Instant talaq verdict illegal, says minister". Indian Express. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  20. "Red beacons for VIPs banned from May 1, even vehicles of PM and President not exempt". HindustanTimes.com. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  21. "Modi bans red beacons for central govt ministers, officials; PM, Prez exempt". DeccanChronicle.com. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  22. "Modi govt puts an end to red beacon, vehicles of the Prime Minister, President, V-P included". IndianExpress.com. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  23. "India bans use of red beacon lights on cars". 20 April 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  24. "বরকতির পরে সিদিকুল্লাহ, তৃণমূলের মাথা ব্যাথা বাড়ালেন মমতার গ্রন্থাগার মন্ত্রী [After Barkati, now it is Siddiqullah; Mamata's Minister of Library is hampering Trinamool]". Ebela. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  25. "'পাকিস্তানে গেলে ভালো প্রশাসনিক পদ পাবে বরকতি' [Barkati will get good political position in Pakistan]". Kolkata 24x7. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  26. "জাতীয়তা বিরোধী মন্তব্যের অভিযোগে টিপু সুলতান মসজিদের শাহি ইমাম পদ থেকে অপসারিত বরকতি [Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque sacked for his anti national comments]". ABP Ananda. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
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