Last minute promises

PM Manmohan Singh on Sunday sought to woo Muslims by pledging to implement the Sachar panel recommendations for welfare of minorities and to bear all expenses for teaching Urdu. Addressing a poll meeting, he noted that minorities account for a sizeable portion of the population in UP, and said their backward condition had come to light in the Sachar report. Singh also said: 8220;We want Muslim children to get Urdu education8230; Our government is ready to bear all expenditures.8221;

New Delhi: Faced with allegations of whipping up communal passion for electoral reasons, the BJP on Sunday said it would give Muslims 8220;equal rights8221; if voted to power in UP. BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused rivals like the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of trading 8220;appeasement8221; for minority votes. 8220;Muslims require all-round development and not mere professional secularism,8221; said a party statement quoting Naqvi as telling election rallies in UP.