Buddha wants separate sub-plan for minority community

Kolkata, July 20 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today informed the Assembly that he had suggested to the Centre setting up of a separate sub-plan for the development of minorities in the state.

Replying to a query of CPI(M)'s Samsul Islam Mollah, the chief minister intervening a reply of Minority Development Minister Abdus Sattar, said during the recent meeting of the Planning Commission, he had requested Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia about the utility of establishing a separate sub-plan for the community in line with the one set up for the development of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

''I have also explained to Dr Ahluwalia about the necessity for a separate sub-plan for the muslims in the wake of increasing demand for such a step from that community,'' he said.

Earlier, he said the state Cabinet, immediately after the recent elections, had decided to merge the Madrassa Development Council with the Minority Development department for smooth administrative functioning.

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