The Hindu : National : Implement Mandal report first: V.P. Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 03, 2006
ePaper

National

National

Implement Mandal report first: V.P. Singh

Gargi Parsai

Wants CBI probe into statue desecration

V.P. Singh

NEW DELHI: The former Prime Minister and Jan Morcha leader, V.P. Singh, on Saturday lauded the Sachar Committee report on the status of Muslims but asserted that the reservation already prescribed under the Mandal Commission for socially and educationally backward sub-castes among the Muslim community and the Most Backward Classes should be implemented immediately.

Speaking to media persons here, Mr. Singh said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre and the Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh should create a sub-quota of reservations under the Mandal Commission framework for backward Muslims who share the same occupational identity as some categories of Scheduled Castes and for the Most Backward Classes under the Other Backward Classes. "It is all very well to show them the moon, but first give them what is already prescribed for them under Mandal."

Mr. Singh, who has launched a `rath yatra' in Uttar Pradesh to "expose the misdeeds of the Mulayam Singh Government," said if his party forms the next government in Uttar Pradesh or has a say in the new government, this would be the first order that would be passed.

He said there was no need to enhance the quota or amend the Constitution as these categories of Muslims and MBCs already qualify under the Mandal Commission recommendations. It just had to be implemented by an "office order" as was done in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and a few southern States. About the demand for imposition of the President's rule in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Singh said the public had already dismissed the Mulayam Government. After the recently held local body elections he believed that elections in the State would not be free and fair. Mr. Singh demanded CBI probe into the desecration of the Ambedkar statue in Kanpur two days ago and the bomb blast near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra in September.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National