By Mohd. Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Agra: Reservation to Muslims found mention during the inaugural day of the two-day eighth national convention of the party in Agra on Tuesday. SP Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav vowed that SP will take up the Muslim reservation issue in right earnest once assuming dominating situation in Delhi politics after 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“Various commissions report as Srikrishan Commission, Sachar Committee report all have underlined that Muslims are in pathetic state in the country. Their representation in government and non government sector is negligible. It can be only improved through reservation. It is their due and they should be given before it is late,” said Mulayam amidst thunderous applause by the party workers.
Mulayam Singh Yadav addressing the convention
“The UPA government is sitting idle over these reports. SP workers should strive for winning nearly 60-70 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections so that the party is in a dominant position and can work for the reservation of Muslims,” he added.
Earlier, Mulayam was elected as national president of the party for tenure of three years unopposed at the national convention. In his hour long speech, Mulayam lashed out at the UPA government and BSP regime for being indifferent towards Muslim issues.
The political and financial resolution presented at the convention also mentioned the Muslim issue prominently. The resolution will come up for discussion on Wednesday before it is formally passed at the convention. Raising the issue of Muslim reservation at the convention assumes significance as SP is the major political player in Hindi belt of the country and the assembly elections are round the corner in 2012 thus giving jitters to other political parties.
Mulayam Singh Yadav addressing the convention
The resolution moved at the convention mentioned that banks are hesitant in giving loans to the Muslims. They are ignored in giving benefits under various government schemes. The weaver community of UP is in dire state with their handlooms virtually closing in various districts. The 18 spinning mills too have closed down while the weavers are living in penury.
Surprisingly, the resolution also stated that provision under section 341 of the Indian constitution that provides SC status to convert Sikhs, Budhist and Christians should be scrapped and Muslims Dalits should also be provided SC status benefits.
However, the internal bickering among Muslim leaders of SP also came to the fore with fire-brand leader Azam Khan skipping the meet as his political bête noire Rasheed Masood was present on the occasion. Both these leaders at loggerheads and do not see eye to eye with each other.