The CPI(M) today asked the Government to implement the Sachar Committee report unmindful of the BJP allegation of Muslim appeasement.

Speaking at the party’s national convention on Sachar Committee recommendations, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat urged the UPA Government to consult all political parties to overcome the Supreme Court stay on OBC quota in higher educational institutions. “We are disturbed by the trend arising in the judiciary (on the reservation issue).... Access to higher education has become the prerogative of the privileged few,” Karat said.

“Whatever safeguards remain for the others, especially those educationally backward, these doors are also being barred by the higher judiciary. The Centre should take the counsel of all political parties to overcome this difficulty,” he said. He asked the ruling UPA coalition not to succumb to BJP campaign on “minority appeasement” and demanded that the Government go ahead full-steam to implement the recommendations for the uplift of the Muslim community.

Observing that the West Bengal government was the first to seek a sub-plan for the Muslims in the 11th Plan, Karat said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told the Left leaders that a decision would be taken on the matter.

“We want the Union Cabinet to take a decision soon on having a sub-plan for the minorities,” he said.

Referring to two earlier Supreme Court judgements, Karat said while one had made higher education “a commercial and business activity”, the other ruled that the state had no role in fixing quota for private institutions.

These verdicts have placed higher education outside the reach of the common people, whether majority or minority, the CPI(M) leader said.

... contd.