http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070529/2905021.htm
Common platform for Muslims, Dalits, OBC By Our Staff Reporter Bhopal, May 28: The Communist Party of India has provided a common platform 'Insaf' for the Dalits, Muslims and Other Backward Classes for their upliftment, says CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan. Such a platform had already started functioning in Andhra Pradesh and it would be expanded to other states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, shortly, said Mr Bardhan while addressing the Madhya Pradesh-level conference here last night on the Sachar Committee report on Muslims. He appealed the Muslims, Dalits and OBCs to make use of the platform to protect their rights. Stating that the Sachar Committee report was an eye-opener on the condition of minorities in the country, the CPI leader said the country's progress could be ensured only with the participation of all communities. After Indonesia, India has the largest Muslim population. In such a situation, every body had to think about providing facilities for the socio-economic development and education of the minorities, he said. In a democratic system, Bardhan said, majority party formed the government, but all governments had the responsibility to safeguard the interests of minorities. Referring to the majority of Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir, he said such sections should not be deprived of their rights merely on the basis of majority in a particular state. Rejecting the BJP claim that the UPA government was indulging in Muslim appeasement, the CPI leader said the Muslims would not have been in such deplorable condition if the Centre framed policies aimed at their appeasement. Holding out the assurance of his party's support for the implementation of the Sachar Committee report, Bardhan said the Muslim community should also come forward and join the struggle to protect their interests. Rajya Sabha Member Syed Aziz Pasha suggested that the Waqf Board property should be freed of government control to ensure the economic upliftment of Muslims. Madhya Pradesh Minority Commission's former chief Ibrahim Qureshi opposed the suggestion to classify Muslims into three categories saying Islam opposed such division. Bardhan against two-party system CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan today opposed President APJ Abdul Kalam's suggestion for evolving a two-party system saying that implementing such system would neither be possible nor be appropriate for a multi-religious and a multi-lingual country like India. Bardhan, while addressing a state-level convention on the Sachchar report on the condition of Muslims in the country, said three states were ruled by Left parties, while other parties had formed governments in other states. Under such circumstances, implementing two-party democratic system with two main parties, the Congress and the BJP, would be inappropriate. Criticising the policies of the Congress, the CPI General Secretary said the United Progressive Alliance Government had not sincerely implemented the Common Minimum Programme so far. He said the Left parties had extended their support to the Congress despite several defects in order to preserve secularism in the country. However, the Left would be forced to review its decision if the Congress continued its behaviour. He admitted that the Left was supporting the Congress because their was no other alternative. Describing the BJP as anti-Muslim, Bardhan said the country's welfare could not be done by a party that was spreading communalism.
