The BJP will go on countrywide protest unless the survey on social, economic and educational status of Muslim s is withdrawn, and BJP-ruled state governments have been directed not to cooperate with the Rajinder Sachar Committee that is carrying out the survey, BJP leader V K Malhotra declared today.Since Mukherjee did not spell out whether the survey would be stopped, the BJP had decided to launch a countrywide protest on the issue, Malhotra said. In reply to questions, Malhotra clarified that the BJP’s objections were not confined to a headcount of Muslims in the armed forces, but extended to such headcounts in other wings of the government as well.The seven-member committee headed by Justice (Retd) Rajinder Sachar seeks to study the social, educational, and economic status of Muslims in India. Stating that the committee was in its very terms of reference highly ‘‘communal and objectionable’’, Malhotra said it was the first time that the word ‘Muslim’ rather than ‘minority’ had been used in a government survey.The BJP state governments were also asked to identify Bangaldeshi infiltrators in their states and start procedures to deport them,” Malhotra said. The Supreme Court and several high courts had passed orders against Bangladeshi infiltrators.Asked if the Bihar and Karnataka governments would also follow suit, Malhotra said the BJP would ‘‘consult our coalition partners on both the issues’’ and their response would determine the final decision. On the Prime Minister’s statement on Iran, Malhotra said the BJP accepted the argument that a nuclear Iran was not in India’s interest. But the party was critical of the manner in which the Indian government handled the issue, giving rise to the impression that it was acting under US pressure.
