New Delhi, August 16: A delegation of the All India Milli Council (AIMC) has asked the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to improve the monitoring and implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations. The delegation met the Prime Minister at his office in the forenoon today.

AIMC Secretary General Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam said in a press release that the delegation (led by AIMC president Maulana Abdullah Mughesi) got "a patient hearing from the PM" on a broad range of topics. "Some reference to the PM's Independence Day speech also came in as a pointer to government's thinking on policy" Dr Alam said.

The delegation appreciated government action on the Sachar Committee recommendations and asked the PM to act on the recommendations that have not been implemented so far. With that a better monitoring structure should be put in place, the delegation told the PM.

The delegation expressed grave concern on the excesses committed in the witch hunt in the name of fighting terrorism. They asked for the establishment of a judicial commission to examine police excesses against innocent Muslims and other weaker groups.

Dr. Alam said the PM reassured the delegation that the proposal of the judicial commission would be examined closely for possible remedial measures.

"Muslim deprivation in terms of educational backwardness, economic distress and unemployment also came in for discussion", Dr. Alam said. The delegation complained that Muslims were not being given enough representation on government committees and decision-making bodies, even in cases where the norm for such representation is co-option and nomination.

The PM said that the country belonged to everyone, and no community or group would be singled out for discriminatory treatment. The implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations and monitoring of its results would be strengthened, the PM assured the delegation.

The delegation included: Ml. Abdul Wahab Khilji, Mauji Khan, Mr. Kamal Farooqui, Ml. Gulzar Qasmi, A.Q Akhtar, Mujahid Ali Naqvi, Shaukat Qureshi, Abdul Lateef and Siddique Mazahiri.


IOSCA