Shiv Sena opposed to Sachar recommendations: Manohar Joshi

Mumbai, Sep 1 (UNI) Senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi today said his party is against the implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations seeking special facilities to minorities.

''Implementation of Sachar Committee report is an atom bomb on Hindus,'' Mr Joshi told mediapersons here today.

Alleging that the UPA government was planning to implement the recommendations with an eye on the vote bank, he said the Central Government did not even discuss the report in the Parliament.

''Concessions on religious grounds will widen the gap between Hindus and Muslims,'' the former Lok Sabha Speaker said.

Reading out a statement by Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Mr Joshi said the Sena chief has alerted Hindus on the steps of the UPA government. Mr Thackeray has stressed the need for concessions and facilities only on economic grounds and not on the basis of caste or religion.

Mr Joshi said a delegation of Sena MPs, led by party executive president Uddhav Thackeray and he himself, will call on Prime Minister and urge him not to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations.

''If the UPA government goes ahead with the implementation, then the Shiv Sena will launch an agitation,'' Mr Joshi threatened.

UNI