The Hindu : National : Examine panel report: CPI

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Monday, Nov 27, 2006
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Examine panel report: CPI

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday urged the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to examine the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee report on the status of minorities in the context of affirmative actions envisaged in the Constitution that provide for recognition of socially and educationally backward classes.

"The CPI has been repeatedly demanding that affirmative actions are required to ameliorate the educational and economic condition of the minorities," party general secretary A.B. Bardhan said at the end of the two-day national executive meeting.

Party national secretary D. Raja said the CPI always maintained that irrespective of religion, dalits should be provided reservation. "Even the Mandal Commission had identified several Muslims as Other Backward Classes. As a matter of principle, we do not support the idea of giving reservation on the basis of religion."

The national executive demanded that all professional Muslim communities be accorded benefits that are available to their counterparts in the majority community. There should be no discrimination in recognising Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes on the basis of religion.

As a majority of Muslims belonged to various artisan communities such as weavers, the Government should announce a special package for them, and they should be given soft bank loans. Adequate funds should be allotted to the existing institutions, special efforts taken for their educational uplift, and there should be no discrimination on the basis of religion for Government jobs and other benefits.

In other resolutions, it hailed the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, and demanded that December 6 be observed as a day against atrocities on dalits.

On agriculture, the party wanted the Government to bring in comprehensive debt relief legislation.

It wanted a moratorium on all agricultural loans, including waiver of all loans up to Rs. 1 lakh; rescheduling of short-term loans into long-term ones; and compensation for the families of farmers who committed suicide.

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