NEW DELHI: The Government on Tuesday asserted that recruitment to the armed forces was based on merit and open to every citizen, including Muslims, without discrimination on the basis of their caste, creed, religion or region.

Making a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the armed forces were professional, apolitical, secular and highly disciplined and every State contributed a fair share of manpower to them.

The Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee was set up on March 9, 2005 to prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims. It was mandated to obtain information from the Union and State Governments and prepare a database so that the Government could make interventions, if necessary, for their uplift, Mr. Mukherjee said.

The Defence Ministry, in a letter to the committee on September 14, 2005, said the recruitment policy was based on merit. Replying to letters from the committee, the Navy gave some statistics on its civilian personnel.

The Air Force also provided some data. The Army, however, did not give any information.

"No survey has been conducted, or is proposed to be conducted for compilation of any statistics than what is maintained in the existing database of the armed forces," Mr. Mukherjee said.

The Defence Secretary met Mr. Justice Sachar on January 17 and again a month later to clarify that recruitment was based on merit and open to every citizen. A letter to this effect was also sent to Mr. Justice Sachar.

Replying to clarifications sought by Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Brinda Karat (CPI-M) and Abu Asim Azmi (Samajwadi Party), Mr. Mukherjee said the Government was not at all "apologetic" about setting up the committee.

There were over 138 million Muslims in the nation, constituting about 13.4 per cent of the population. The community reportedly suffered from illiteracy, low income and irregular employment. "If we want to have a survey, what is wrong in it?" Mr. Mukherjee asked.

He said the exercise was important, as it would involve research and analysis of published data. The "study" would also address issues concerning the Dalit Christians and Buddhists.

The Government was committed to improving the lot of Muslims and all backward communities. All regiments, named after communities and regions, were formed before Independence. None was raised after1950.

Mr. Mukherjee agreed with a suggestion of the Leader of the Opposition, Jaswant Singh. that the controversy be put to res. He reminded the members of the "vow of a soldier" who remained steadfast in discharging his duty and commitment to the cause of the nation.

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