PM open to sub-Plan for Muslims, says Karat

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to consider the CPI(M)'s demand for a sub-Plan for Muslims on the lines of the tribal sub-Plan.

The proposal envisages specific allocation for Muslims in all development schemes in proportion to their population at the national level.

Addressing a convention on the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee's recommendations organised by the CPI(M) here, party General Secretary Prakash Karat said the government had set up a committee to look into the findings of the Sachar panel.

The committee's report, when it was submitted, and the CPI(M)'s suggestion about the sub-Plan would be taken up by the Cabinet, he said, citing the prime minister's assurance.

The assurance is learnt to have been given at the dinner hosted by the prime minister at his residence last week. Left sources said the Planning Commission was also "amenable" to the idea of a sub-Plan for Muslims and it was for the Cabinet to take a final call.

Karat said the recent trend of court rulings on the issue of OBC quota in institutions of higher education showed that there could be judicial obstacles to the implementation of any programme based on the Sachar panel findings.

"I and West Bengal Chief Minister had approached the Planning Commission and sought inclusion of a minority sub-Plan in the 11th Five-Year Plan. But the government has not taken any decision. We want the Cabinet to decide soon." said Karat.

Taking a swipe at the UPA regime, CPI(M) MP Mohammad Salim, who headed the party's committee that prepared the "CPI(M)'s Charter for Advancement of Muslim Community", said in 1993-94, the National Minority Development Finance Corporation, which was to have a corpus of Rs 500 crore , was set up.

"Till today, the paid capital of Rs 500 crore is not available. The finance minister says he will give Rs 63 crore this year. This shows the seriousness of the government." he said.

The CPI(M)'s charter of demands being finalised includes, among other things, strict monitoring of the implementation of existing schemes for minority welfare, reservation for Dalit Muslims and, adequate representation of Muslims in recruitment for state and Central security forces and in the panels of all recruitment boards of selection committees.