Sena threatens agitation on Sachar action report

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena would launch an agitation if the Centre implemented the follow-up action on the Sachar Committee report, a senior party leader on Saturday said.

The party, however, made it clear that it favoured facilities on the basis of economic status rather than religion.

"The Sachar follow-up report presented by the government in Parliament yesterday amounts to nothing but appeasing Muslims for votes," Sena MP and leader Manohar Joshi said.

"We believe facilities should be given on the basis of economic status and to every poor person, whether a Hindu, Muslim or a Christian," Joshi said.

"A delegation of all Sena MPs, led by Uddhav Thackeray would meet the Prime Minister next week and apprise him of our stand on the issue. If the government continues with this appeasement, we will launch a wide-ranging agitation," he added.

In the follow up report on the Sachar committee, the Centre on Friday agreed in principle to set up an Equal Opportunity Commission to look into grievances regarding discrimination against Muslims.

"In the report, there are only references to Muslims, raising doubts as to whether the committee was set up to look into problems of minorities or of Muslims alone," Joshi said.

"Balasaheb Thackeray (Sena chief) has asked Hindus to be aware, and has said there should be reservations only on the basis of economic backwardness," he said.

"If the government funds higher education of a Muslim student, is it not obvious that a poor Hindu student would feel betrayed," he asked.