BSP govt likely to announce sops for Muslim in UP

Lucknow, Jul 11 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh is set to announce a hefty package for the Muslims to woo the minority members in wake of the UPA government's decision to go ahead on the nuclear deal with the United States.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati, who had already announced to oppose the deal by terming it as anti-muslim and anti-national, is now making all efforts to attract the community vote bank in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

The efforts of the BSP government has sent shivers within the pro-muslim parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Congress and now these parties have also stepped up their politics to contain the shifting of the minority vote bank.

The UP government, which had met several delegations of the Shia and Sunni clerics in the past 10 days, was set to hike funds for Urdu Academy and introduce pension scheme for the Madrasa teachers.

The government might also give its nod for setting up an Urdu- Persian university in the state capital.

In the political arena, the BSP government might accommodate some more muslim legislators in the Ministry in a gesture to win over the hearts of the Muslims.

According to sources after giving patient hearing to the Muslim clerics during the meeting, the CM had promised them to put before her government a list of long-term and short term measures for the community's welfare. In exchange for that the BSP wants the Muslim leaders to hold demonstration on the street against the nuclear deal.

Ms Mayawati had already set up a core group of leaders in her party consisting of BSP general secretary S C Mishra, state PWD minister Nasimuddin Siddique and former MLC Siraj Mehendi and had asked the committee to recommend the state government to initiate projects on education, health and employment to appease the Muslims community.

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