Islamism - 7

[Guest]

Centre's advice: Deploy Muslims in Muslim areas
Sumit Pande / CNN-IBN

Thu, Sep 06, 2007

<i>BANKING ON FAITH: Govt's move is an indication that it needs a large share of Muslim vote in case of a mid-term poll.</i>

New Delhi: The Congress-led UPA government on Wednesday played the biggest Muslim card so far.

In a clear indication that it needs a large share of the Muslim vote in case of a mid-term poll, the Government is now asking states to deploy more Muslim policemen, teachers and health workers in Muslim dominated areas. This is particularly in context where there is great deal of public hearing.

So, an election-bound coalition is perhaps preparing for the inevitable by putting Sachar Panel recommendations on a fast track.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has written a letter to all state governments and union territories that there should be more Muslim policemen, teachers and health workers.

“This is not unprecedented. Even during Indira Gandhi's time such letters were written to chief ministers however it’s another thing that they were not followed,” Member Secretary of the Sachar Commission, Abu Saleh Sharif said.

That’s not all, DoPT has also directed Union Home, Health and Human Resource Development ministries to frame guidelines for these postings in minority dominated areas.

Although Home, Health and Education appointments are a prerogative of state governments and the advisory is not binding but political overtones are quite evident.

“They are trying to nutralise the effect of the nuclear deal row with the Left,” BJP Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The Government has so far accepted 72 out of the 76 recommendations by the Sachar Panel.

The Government has however, rejected recommendation to have a caste based census and the other contentious issue of Muslim reservations has been put on a backburner.

But it’s also a clear enough indication that a strategy is being worked upon to counter Left allegations on the Congress of being pro-imperialist after a bitter stand-off over the Indo-US nuclear deal.