Implement Sachar report: CPM to Govt

The CPIM today asked the Government to implement the Sachar Committee report unmindful of the BJP allegation of Muslim appeasement.

The CPIM today asked the Government to implement the Sachar Committee report unmindful of the BJP allegation of Muslim appeasement.

Speaking at the party8217;s national convention on Sachar Committee recommendations, CPIM general secretary Prakash Karat urged the UPA Government to consult all political parties to overcome the Supreme Court stay on OBC quota in higher educational institutions. 8220;We are disturbed by the trend arising in the judiciary on the reservation issue8230;. Access to higher education has become the prerogative of the privileged few,8221; Karat said.

8220;Whatever safeguards remain for the others, especially those educationally backward, these doors are also being barred by the higher judiciary. The Centre should take the counsel of all political parties to overcome this difficulty,8221; he said. He asked the ruling UPA coalition not to succumb to BJP campaign on 8220;minority appeasement8221; and demanded that the Government go ahead full-steam to implement the recommendations for the uplift of the Muslim community.

Observing that the West Bengal government was the first to seek a sub-plan for the Muslims in the 11th Plan, Karat said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told the Left leaders that a decision would be taken on the matter.

8220;We want the Union Cabinet to take a decision soon on having a sub-plan for the minorities,8221; he said.

Referring to two earlier Supreme Court judgements, Karat said while one had made higher education 8220;a commercial and business activity8221;, the other ruled that the state had no role in fixing quota for private institutions.

These verdicts have placed higher education outside the reach of the common people, whether majority or minority, the CPIM leader said.

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He said in the 1990s, a nine-member Constitution Bench of the apex court had upheld job reservation for OBCs, barring those in the creamy layer. 8220;Now why is it going backward?8221; Karat asked.

Maintaining that the socio-economic status of Muslims was far behind other communities, Karat said while BJP has already begun a campaign on UPA8217;s 8220;minority appeasement8221;, the Government should 8220;not give in to any such pressure and justice must be done to the Muslims8221;. Karat said the convention would adopt a demand charter on the basis of Sachar Committee recommendations and present it to the government for action.

CPIM MP Mohd Salim explained the proposed demand charter to the gathering of mostly Muslim party leaders from different parts of the country.

Observing that the Sachar Committee had highlighted the deplorable socio-economic plight of the Muslims, he said issues of development, employment, equity, education and security were part of the CPIM demand charter for the advancement of Muslim community.