'Remove special grants for Muslims from budget'

Sat, Mar 15 01:45 AM

SPEAKING AGAINST the 'communal bias of the Centre' Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi on Friday demanded the removal of the pages from the Budget where special concessions have been given to Muslims as it would hurt the Hindus. Participating in the debate on the General Budget 2008-09, he warned the government of serious consequences if it handed out special concessions to Muslims following the Sachar Committee Report.

Expressing his shock at the facilities being made available for the Muslims, including modernization of Madrasas, he said it amounts to allocation of funds to the tune of several crores. "We are against allotments made for a religious group, not because they belong to the minority community but as it would divide the country and is going to have serious repercussions.

" Joshi also said that the decision to waive farmer loans has not achieved its goal as 34 farmers have committed suicide in Vidharbha since the announcement. He said the "aam aadmi" (common man) was very angry at the price rise and there was every possibility they would bring down the government.

Independent Member Tarlochan Singh urged that government should not "divide minorities" by announcing concessions only for the largest group - the Muslims. "What about Christians and Sikhs?" he asked.

Everywhere weaker sections of the minority communities get more help but in India Muslims are benefited because of the existing vote bank politics, he added. CPI leader D. Raja said, "The Budget falls flat on the tall claims made by the UPA government.

" It wants to perpetuate the poor and weaker sections as labourers," he said. He welcomed the loan waiver but said it would have a short-term effect.

Instead, the government should have constituted a national debt relief commission and brought down interest rate on farm loans to 4 per cent.

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