Sub-plan best way for development of Muslims: MP

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) Calling for concerted efforts which include having a sub-plan in the 11th plan to uplift the Muslims in view of their ill representation in the services, Minister of State in West Bengal Mohammad Saleem accepted that the community lacked adequate representation even in his state.

''Allocating 20 per cent under the sub-plan can be an effective way to bridge the yawning gap as was done in the case of the North Eastern region for its development, wherein 10 per cent was earmarked for the region. Consequently, any departmental project had to expend the aforesaid percentage for the region,'' he said while addressing a public meeting last evening in the run-up to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union elections due for Thursday.

Referring to the Justice Rajinder Sachchar Committee findings on the representation of Muslims in government services, he said it is good in the sense that the long-running misconception about the appeasement of the minority community has been dispelled.

Replying to a query as to whether the Muslim community should also resort to the formation of a political outfit for asserting their political rights like the Bahujan Samaj Party and other similar groups, he said Muslims are not as consolidated as other groups and reiterated that the Left's proposal for the sub-plan was the most effective and the community should rally behind the Left which stands for the uplift of all the marginalised sections of society.

Responding to the demand for reservations for the community, he said the constitution of the country does not provide for reservations on grounds of religion.

In a lighter vein, he added Muslims can be found in all political parties.

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