Paswan defends PM's remark on Minorities, demands special funds

New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) Lok Janshakti Party President and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement regarding minorities having first claim to resources and demanded that these intentions of the government be implemented by making special allocations for Minorities/SC/ST in the next year's budget.

Asserting that there was no need for PMO to go ''defensive and issue clarifications'' regarding Dr Singh's speech at the National Development Council, Mr Paswan told mediapersons here that the Justice Sachar Committee report has shown that minorities, especially Muslims are socially and educationally backward so they should be given special opportunities like dalits.

He demanded that each ministry and department should make a special component plan under which funds could be allocated for development of SC/STs and Minorities. The LJP leader charged the BJP of trying to raise the issue for ''political mileage'' and said that the UPA could not change its stand under BJP pressure.

Mr Paswan reiterated his party's demand for reservation for dalit Muslims, both in jobs and also in state assemblies and Parliament.

Meanwhile, the LJP would organise an International Dalit Muslims Conference here from December 27. The two-day conference would be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar, Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-din Soz and many other important dignitaries. A number of delegates from various parts of the world would participate in the deliberations regarding uplifting of dalits and Muslim communities, he said.

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