Author: Bureau Report
Publication: Zeenews.com
Date: January 14, 2009
URL: http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-01-14/498482news.html
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
on Monday ruled out any reservation on the basis of religion, saying such
a quota was not possible.
"Reservation based on religion is not
possible," Bhattacharjee told a delegation of the National Commission
for Minorities, led by its chairman Md Safi Quereshi.
Quereshi earlier said that the state's minorities
demanded reservation during an interaction with the Commission yesterday.
The commission chairman was talking to reporters
after the delegation met the CM as part of its visit to assess the status
of minorities in the state.
Asked about the Commission's views on reservation
for the minorities, Quereshi said, "It's a policy matter. I can't say
anything without discussing it with the Centre."
Quereshi said that the Chief Minister also
told the delegation that Muslims should not feel isolated even if the minorities
were not facing any crisis other than some socio-economic problems in the
state.
However, the state government was trying hard
to solve all their problems and upgrade their social and economic status through
various development programmes and opportunities for employment, Bhattacharjee
told the delegates.
During its visit, the Commission interacted
with minorities, including Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Muslims and reviewed
the problems faced by them.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Minorities
Affairs and Madrasah Education Abdus Sattar said that taking in view of the
socio-economic problems of the minorities, the state government has earmarked
Rs 400 crore in the budget.