Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured CPI(M) leaders that a sub plan for Muslims in the 11th Plan would be considered.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured CPI(M) leaders that a sub plan for Muslims in the 11th Plan would be considered. CPI(M) leaders including Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury had taken up the matter with the Prime Minister on March 23 when Singh assured them that the cabinet will discuss the matter shortly, sources revealed on Saturday.
In the wake of the Sachar Committee report which highlighted the pathetic socio-economic condition of Muslims in the country, the CPI(M) had set up an in-house committee to study and suggest affirmative steps to empower Muslims. The party had recently demanded that the Centre have a sub plan proportionate to the population of Muslims, and on the lines of the one for development of tribals in north-eastern states.
Observing that the West Bengal government was the first to seek a sub plan for the Muslims in the 11th Plan, Karat on Friday said the Prime Minister had told them that a decision would be taken on the matter. “We want the union cabinet to take a decision soon on having a sub-plan for minorities,” he said.
As part of its efforts to create awareness on the Sachar Committee report on the socio-economic backwardness of Muslims, the CPI(M) on Friday organised a convention of Muslims to debate the issue. Addressing the convention Karat asked the ruling UPA coalition not to succumb to the BJP’s accusations of a campaign on ‘minority appeasement’ and demanded that the government should go ahead full-steam to implement the recommendations to uplift the lot of Muslims.
Maintaining that the socio-economic status of Muslims was far behind other communities, Karat said justice must be done to the Muslims. He stated the convention would adopt a demand charter on the basis of the Sachar Committee recommendations and present it to the government for action.
Senior CPI(M) MP Mohd Salim explained the proposed demand charter to the gathering of mostly Muslim party leaders from different parts of the country.
Observing that the Sachar Committee had highlighted the deplorable socio-economic plight of the Muslims, he said issues of development, employment, income generation, education and security were part of the demand charter for the advancement of Muslim community. The charter details large number of issues and demands which the party would place before the government.
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