BJP opposes categorisation of Muslim districts

New Delhi, May 18: The BJP today assailed the UPA Government's decision to identify 90 Muslim-dominated districts in the country as per the recommendation of the Sachar Committee, terming the move "unfortunate".

"The move will disturb the communal harmony and threaten the unity of the country," the party warned.

Addressing newspersons, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said the poeple of the country had not forgotten the partition of country in 1947 which was done of the basis of Muslim concentration areas.

"No effort should be made to divide the country geographically again into majority and minority concentrated districts as it will be fraught with dangers and have disastrous consequences," Mr Javadekar said.

At least the UPA should learn a lesson from the Congress decision in the 1980s under the Rajiv Gandhi government when it was decided to identify minority dominated districts. The decision was opposed by the BJP's Yuva Morcha following which the decision was retracted.

The BJP, he said, was in favour of development action for all deprived regions, classes and communities.

Mr Javadekar said the Government could ensure special need based development package for any deprived section but should not play with the basic concept of unity and secularism. The BJP was against the concept of establishment of the Sachar Committee, he added.

UNI