BJP lambasts government for loans on religion basis

New Delhi, Jan 17 (UNI) The BJP today rapped the UPA Government for what it termed ''the height of appeasement'' the Finance Ministry direction to the banks to earmark a portion of loan disbursement for the religious minority, in general, and Muslims, in particular.

"BJP condemns the government's communal approach in every sphere of national life. The Prime Minister's refrain of 'first claim' of Muslims on India's development resources is being systematically implemented in phases by communalising sector after sector," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.

Cautioning that the circular sent to various banks by the Indian Bankers Association (IBA), which was as good as a directive from the Government, would play "havoc" with banking system of the country.

He said the UPA Government first played its communal card by asking for a headcount on religious basis in the army thus eopardising the secular character of the forces.

It then ''communalised'' the education by trying to give religion- based reservation, followed by the Congress asking pardon to Afzal Guru, convict in the Parliament attack case and Madani, accused in the Coimbatore bomb blast case, thus "disturbing" judicial probity, Mr Javadekar said.

Accusing the Congress-led coalition of compromising on national interests for furthering its vote bank politics, the party referred to the repealing of POTA and manipulations made with IMDT Act as ''dangerous".

Observing that the Ministry's directive was in contravention of prudent banking norms, Mr Javadekar said loans were granted by banks on merit of the proposal not on the basis of cast, class or religion but on factors like the viability and payback period of the proposed venture.

Moreover the banks were already catering the eligible applicants from minority communities over and above as recommended by the State Minority Financial Corporations, he added.

He said religion had never been a consideration for favour or discrimination in the banking sector. "The Government is precisely communalising hitherto a secular financial system," he added.

UNI