'UP govt flayed for ignoring backward Muslims'

Lucknow, Oct 16 (UNI) National Commission for Backward Classes has decried the ''apathetic'' attitude of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government in Uttar Pradesh towards the backwards, particularly of the Muslim community.

Talking to reporters here today Commission' member Abdul Ali Azizi said the condition of the backward Muslims in the state was deplorable and the present government has done nothing to uplift their social, economic and educational status.

Mr Azizi said in the state backward commission, there were 17 members, but not a single belonged to the Muslim community, while in the 22 member state minority commission only six Muslims have been given representation.

''A recent advertisement of the UP government also did not mention any benefits for the backward Muslims, who comprise 85 per cent of the total Muslim population in the state,'' he claimed.

The backward commission member also criticised the role of the commercial banks in providing loans to the minorities. ''There is a strict guideline by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to provide 15 per cent loan to the minorities, but it is not implemented in UP,'' he said.

Mr Azizi said against the norm of one hostel in each tehsil for the backward class students, the state has only one hostel in each district that shows the state government's indifferent attitude. He said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 5.10 crore for construction of 15 backward class hostels in the state with 50 per cent contribution from the state government.

The backward class member also said efforts were on for an uniformity in the slab of the creamy layer even as the Centre has hiked the slab from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh recently. ''But the slab in several states differ with the central slab and recently the UP government had announced to waive the slab system,'' he admitted.

UNI MB JAS SB KN1809