Sachar panel report to be implemented to toto: Govt

New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) The UPA government will implement the Sachar committee report on Muslims in toto, Minister for Minorities Affairs A R Antulay said here today.

''We will fully implement all the measures suggested by the committee for the uplift of the community,'' Mr Antulay said here after addressing an international conference on dalits and minorities which ended here today.

The implementation may start from the next year, he said when asked about the time frame.

The Minister also said that the Waqf Act will be amended to make state waqf boards more accountable to the Centre, which implied giving more powers to the Central Waqf Council.

He pointed out that waqf proterties worth crores of rupees were ilegally occupied and if they were freed and made use of for the benefit of the community, there would be no need for Mulsims to look up to others for financial assistance.

Mr Antulay also said all efforts were being made for effective implementation of the Prime Minister's 20-point programme for minorities.

Earlier, addressing the conference, he said welfare of the minorities, who constituted 30 per cent of the population of the country, was a major responsibility of the government.

"If minorityism does not have to be in India where else should it be in the world," he said hitting out at the BJP without naming it.

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