Khurshid in touch with Home Ministry over detention of Muslim

youth in Malegaon case

Mumbai, Feb 1 (PTI) Union Minority Affairs MinisterSalman Khurshid today said that he was in touch with theMinistry of Home Affairs over continued detention of someMuslim youths in the Malegaon bomb blast case.

"In wake of the new confessions and discoveries in theinvestigations, it is evident that the case of those who areunder arrest since the blasts took place need to be seen onhumanitarian grounds. I am in touch with the Home Minister inthis regard," Khurshid told reporters here.

He said the proposed Communal Violence Bill containsprovisions which addresses issues of arrests and detentionof innocent persons.

"We hope the bill will be tabled in the Parliamentsoon," Khurshid said.

To a query on the controversy over Vice Chancellor ofthe Darul-Uloom Deoband Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvipraising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Khurshid saidDarul-Uloom Deoband was a historic institution.

"The Institution elected Vastanvi. The issue is theirinternal matter,"he added.

"People say there is development in the Modi-ruledstate. But, Gujarat and Maharashtra were among the mostprosperous states during Congress rule. The foundation forprogress and development was always good in Gujarat. But,the social situation was different," he added.

Khurshid said Gujarat had not accepted its 25 per centshare of the pre-matric scholarships to minority students.

"It is very sad. The Centre bears 75 per cent of theshare. About 35 to 40 lakh scholarships have already beengiven of which substantial number is from Maharashtra. ",hesaid adding Maharashtra was doing a good job in terms ofspending on minority welfare. .