CPI(M) demand reservations for Dalit, OBC Muslims

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) The CPI(M) today made a strong case for reservations for Dalit and OBC Muslims in the wake of the Sachar Committee Report findings while asking the UPA government not to get" browbeaten" by the propoganda of" Muslim appeasement" by certain quarters.

"The move would not only help socio- economic and educational emanicipation of the minority community but also instill in the 138 million Muslims in the country a sense of belonging," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said while releasing the Left party's 'Charter for Advancement of Muslim Community.' At a press conference at the party headquarters A K Gopalan Bhawan, Mr Karat, however, laughed away the question relating to the timing of the release of the Charter in the wake of UP assembly polls a month away." We don't think our charter will make much of the difference on the electoral scene." Replying to a specific query, Mr Karat, flanked by Party Deputy Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Mohammad Salim, who is also the Convenor of the party Committee on the issue, said his party had given thought to" these reservations" even as the Sachar Committee Report had not said anything on it.

Mr Karat also made it clear that his party had chosen not to" fix" any percentage of reservations but insisted that the Sachar Committee Report's emphasis on equal opportunities and rights for the Muslims might be " too impractical at this stage." The four-page Charter deplored that even though they are listed in a large number of states as OBCs, they had hardly benefitted through the OBC quota." A monitoring mechanism can be set up in different states to check the progress on this front." The Muslims must get adequate representation in the state and Central security forces, availability of easy credit to artisans and self employed." The 15 per cent allocation for minorities from priority sector bank loans assured by the Prime Minister must be implemented,stalls, petrol and gas leaderships and opportunities for Muslims should also be ensured." Stating that it was found that Muslim women had not had adequate opportunities in the self-help group sector, it said " Attention must be paid to form women's self help groups among Muslims with bank linkages." The other measures include technological and skill upgradation.

On improvement of educational facilities, the Charter cited the imparting of modern education through residential schools, the increase in the number of hostels for Muslim girls, Recruitment of Urdu Speaking teachers and filling of Urdu teaching posts in Schools and imparting of vocational studies among other things.

On security aspect, the Left leaders also made a strong case for implementing the Srikrishna Report on riots in Maharashtra saying this did an important task in exposing all those who shielded the rioters.

They demanded a CBI Enquiry into Gujarat carnage, while asking the Central and state governments to do the needful without further delay in supplementing other efforts from within the community and other quarters.

" CPI(M) Polit Bureau in its last meeting here on Feb 17-18 have discussed the whole gamut of the Sachar Committee Report and adopted most of them. But we have also formulated our Charter based on our understanding and analysis which includes reservations for the Muslims." The CPI(M) leaders asserted that ''they did not want the fate of the Sachar Committee Report to be like that of any other Report.. We have circulated the Charter among political parties, the opinion makers and the interested quarters so as to incorporate more suggestions at 'A National Convention' the date of which is to be announced soon.'' On the Muslim community lagging behind in government employment in Left Democratic Front run government in West Bengal, the Left leaders said," The Sachar Committee Report has drawn our attention towards this fact. After implementing land reforms for the minority community which account for 25 per cent of the total population in the state, the state government will definitely take remedial measures.' " It is essential to immediately identify Muslim areas and conduct concrete surveys, so that the assurance can be concretized. This exercise must be done in a time bound framework," the Charter said.

On development, the government must formulate a sub plan for the Muslim community on the lines of a tribal sub-plan.

UNI