CABINET -UP-MINORITY UP govt reserves 20 pc of benefits for Muslims Lucknow, Aug 20 (UNI) With growing communal polarization in the state before the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh government today decided to reserve 20 per cent of benefits to the Muslim communities in 85 developmental and welfare schemes under 30 departments in the state. The decision was approved by the State Cabinet meeting here which was chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Surprisingly, State Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Azam Khan was absent in the crucial cabinet meeting concerning his department. Yesterday he had criticised the party leadership for meeting the Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) leaders. Later talking to mediapersons Mr Yadav said it was a promise made to the voters by the Samajwadi Party during the last assembly elections and now it has been fulfilled. " We have just implemented the recommendation of the Sacchar Committee and it will benefit the 20 per cent Muslims who have been ignored in the past," he said. The government also ordered to appoint compulsory 2 members of the minority community in the state level committees headed by Chief Secretary and district level chaired by District Magistrates which will monitor the implementation of the government order. The government in its brief said that in UP there are 19.33 per cent minorities as per the 2001 census and within that 25 per cent are poor. UP BJP has criticised the order of the government and claimed that it is an appeasement move to garner the Muslim votes before the Lok Sabha polls. BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak said here that such reservation is undemocratic and unconstitutional." It will only enhance disparity in the society and the majority community will feel ditched by the government," he alleged. UNI MB
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:24:20 +0000