Early implementation of Sachar comm report: Arif Khan

Mumbai, Nov 21: Former Maharashtra Minister and Congress legislator Arif Naseem Khan today urged the Congress-led UPA government and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to implement the recommendations of Justice Sachar Committee report at the earliest.

The Sachar Committee report had recently highlighted the backwardness of Muslims in the country. According to the report, Muslims were even more backward than the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in practically all spheres of life.

Mr Khan, who represents the Kurla constituency, has written letters to Ms Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

He also lambasted VHP leader Pravin Togadia for saying Muslims do not require reservation.

''His statement shows that he wants to incite communal feelings,'' Mr Khan charged and added that that such statements by saffron forces needs to be condemned in the strongest words.

He explained that the report needs to be implemented at the earliest to improve the hot and status of the minosily community across the country.

''Today their condition is worse than what it was 30 years ago,'' the legislator said and regretted that even in the government sector their representation is ''minimal''.

''In education too, things are not very good,'' Mr Khan said and stressed that early implementation of the Sachar Committee report is the ''only way'' for the upliftment of Muslims in India.

UNI