BJYM Chief criticises PM's observations on minorities

Dehradun, Dec 19 (UNI) Criticising at the Centre Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha National President Dharmendra Pradhan today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that Muslim minority must have the first claim on the country's resources at National Development Council meeting.

''It totally amounted to appeasement of Muslims,'' Mr Pradhan said while addressing a press conference here, adding that he was not averse to the welfare of the Muslim community.

He said in Andhra Pradesh, effort to provide reservation to Muslims fell flat.

''UPA Government knows constitutional limitation and ought to take lesson from Andhra Pradesh case,'' he asserted.

Mr Pradhan said the development process should not be based on religion but on social and financial backwardness.

The BJP and Shiv Sena who had stalled proceedings in Parliament earlier demanding an apology from Prime Minister for his observations on minorities.

Taking strong exception to the UPA government exhorting delay technique in Afzal Guru's execution, he said it was the height of it's Muslim appeasement policy.

''This would have a bearing in forthcoming assembly elections and Congress will have to bear the brunt,'' Mr Pradhan said.

He also expressed his concern over the Indo-US Nuclear deal and said the UPA government was playing on the hands of United States, as one of the provision in the deal would put India's independent nuclear policy in stake.

When asked whether he would advocate reservation for the youths in the forthcoming Assembly elections in four states, he said ''I don't have to, as Party does not believe in quota system and it gives equal representation to all its units.'' Mr Pradhan was here to review the Uttaranchal unit of BJYM's preparations for early next year's Assembly elections.

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