Muslim MPs give Sachar report discussions a miss

The Sachar committee report may have created a political maelstrom about the condition of Muslims in India, but the Union human resource development ministry seems to be having trouble getting MPs of the Muslim community to even attend consultations on how best to take the report forward.

According to sources, at a meeting held last week on the issue, only 15 out of approximately 45 Muslim MPs belonging to both Houses of Parliament bothered to attend the meeting.

Expectedly, MPs from the BJP and the Samajwadi Party have boycotted the meetings, calling it a political stunt of the ruling UPA combine.

When questioned on the attendance of MPs, head of HRD committee and Minister of State for HRD M A A Fatmi said, "As Parliament was in session and lengthy discussions were going on in the House, many MPs were not able to attend the meeting."

Interestingly, the issue of reservations did not gain momentum in the meeting. "Though there was a voice from certain MPs, there was no major demand for reservations," Fatmi said.

"We concentrated on providing more avenues for the community through more schools, scholarships. The committee proposes to provide Muslims more opportunities, from Anganwadi to higher education segment."

But the lack of political consensus is worrying other Muslim MPs who attended the meeting. "While we are happy that the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee has come out with a detailed report depicting the plight of Muslims in the country, we want all the political parties including the BJP to agree upon a pattern, based on which there can be a real development among Muslims," Laljan Basha, MP and chairman, joint parliamentary committee on Wakf, told Business Standard.

The Telugu Desam MP said this was the concern among most of the regional parties. "We want the recommendations should lead to some feasible opportunities for the community which is even lagging behind the OBCs," Basha said.

"In education, employment or social status, Muslims do not appear in a good position," Basha remarked.

"I had requested HRD minister Arjun Singh to get an assurance from even the BJP leaders as the Opposition support is also needed to make any constitutional or legal arrangement for providing more opportunities for the Muslim students," he said.