September 14, 2011
Trinamool-led government to opt for a `foolproof` bill on reservation for Minorities
Kolkata, Sept. 13: Ms. Mamata Banerjee today met the cleric Qari Fazlur Rahman and told him that she would carry out a survey to identify economically disadvantaged members of the community and then decide on a reservation policy.
The Chief Minister had questioned the legality of the 10 per cent reservation that the past government had announced for OBC Muslims, and said she would bring about a `foolproof` bill on reservation for minorities.
The chief minister was requested that she could consider conducting a census on the lines of what was done in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, which provide reservations for backward Muslims. She instructed the Secretary of the Minorities Department, to get details of the surveys done in the two states.
The Chief Minister also assured that she would take up all issues related to the community after the by-election.
Ms. Banerjee had said Urdu would be made the second language in districts where the Muslims formed 10 per cent or more of the population and promised low-cost housing and government jobs for the minority community.
