Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that his Government was committed to the welfare of minority community as it has ensured that Muslims get a good share of benefits of Government schemes.
Yadav said while meeting a delegation of Muslim leaders led by Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Ahmad Bukhari here on Sunday.
Yadav said that 20 per cent of the development schemes have been reserved for the minority community. This is done to ensure minority’s share in government schemes. “No other government in the country has taken this progressive step. Only Samajwadi Party thinks about welfare of Muslims and has taken decisions to ensure their safety,” he said.
Elaborating on the steps government has taken for the welfare of Muslims Yadav said that government has sanctioned Rs 70 crore for setting up of multi-purpose hub. Money has been sanctioned to modernize 7000 madarsas across state. The Muslim students are being given vocational and technical training so that they can get good job, Chief Minister told the delegation members.
“Government has increased funds from existing Rs 200 crore to Rs 400 crore to build boundaries across graveyards. The weavers, majority of them Muslims, over 60 years of age would get pension. Besides, Haj House has been constructed in lucknow and Ghaziabad for the benefit of Hajis,” he said.
Maulana Bukhari also called the meeting with CM, which lasted for about 90 minutes, as successful. “CM has accepted our demands. He has assured us that within three months’ time several demands of the Muslim leaders would be implemented," the Maulana said.
The delegation demanded immediate release of the Muslim youths whole have been implicated in false case. "We have demanded that the government should give reservation to the Muslim as is given in other states like Kerala and Karnataka pattern,” Bukhari told reporters after meeting.
He said that during election campaign SP had promised to open urdu medium schools. It has not been done in last four years. In remaining period government should at least start urdu classes. Besides jobs should be made available for muslim youths and muslim officials should be promoted.
The muslim leaders also apprised the CM of communal tension in the state and demanded that the life and properties of the muslims should be protected.
During a meeting of Muslim leaders Maulana Bukhari had given three months’ deadline to government to fulfill all the promises made to the muslims by the Samajwadi Party.