Monazir Hasan Loyalists Protest against his Removal
Patna: April 23, 2008
 Muslim supporters of the former Building Construction Minister Dr. Monazir Hasan in Patna on Wednesday staged a dharna at the Income Tax roundabout to protest against his sudden and unceremonious removal from the Nitish government saying his departure indicated a marked shift in minority policy in the administration.
Protesting under the banner of Anjuman Ittehadul Musalman, its president Mohammed Mumtaz Ahmed said that Dr. Hasan left the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) over four years ago to join the NDA in the hope of getting a fair deal for the members of the Muslim community.
"Dr. Hasan was a dedicated soldier of the NDA who rigorously campaigned during last few Parliamentary and Assembly elections to ensure victories for the NDA candidates. The Nitish administration, however, decided to pay him back by eliminating him from the Cabinet," Ahmed said.
"There are four ministers from a particular caste whose population in the state is mere 2 percent. Muslims, on the other hand, whose population in Bihar is 18 percent are represented by only two ministers," he further said.
Another representative of the group accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of trying to divide the state on religious line.
"While our sentiments have been hurt by the way Dr. Hasan was removed, it is still not too late for the Chief Minister to rectify the error," said Mahmud Alam.
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