Indian Muslim League demands reservation for Muslims

Nagpur, Feb 12 (UNI) Demanding earliest implementation of the Sachar Committee report, Indian Muslim League (IML) National President G M Banatwalla advocated reservations in education and jobs for Muslims.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Mr Banatwalla said that post-Independence, the situation of Muslims became more pathetic than Dalits. Seeking legal and financial approval for the uplift of Muslims, Mr Banatwalla said that uplift should be linked to planning process.

He demanded that the Maharashtra Government implement the Sachar Committee report. The committee, appointed by the Central government to assess representation of Muslims in various government sectors including defence and others, has submitted its report recently.

Urging the Indian Government to continue the peace talks with Pakistan, the IML President said the government should go ahead irrespective of the attempts of some undesired elements to disrupt the peace dialogue.

Replying to a question, Mr Banatwalla said when Maoists, Naxalites, LTTE and other were indulging in terror activities, why the police were targeting the Muslims only.

He also condemned the incident of Israel Army resorting to firing and cane charge in a mosque. ''It is a violation of Geneva Convention and UNESCO rules. Indian Government should intervene and raise the issue at the UN,'' he said.

Reacting on the new that the Uttar Pradesh and the Central Government have filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to construct a steel wall around the Babri Masjid, Mr Banatwalla said IML was strongly against it. The petition should be withdrawn immediately, he said.

He accused the Maharashtra Government of not implementing the Shrikrishna Commission report. He said that while bomb blasts at other places were being probed by the CBI, the blasts at Malegaon and Nanded in Maharashtra were not being probed by agency despite the state government's announcement in this regard.

UNI