8 March, 2007

Dear Shri Karat,

                        We welcome the CPI(M) charter for advancement of the Muslim community.  However, we suggest some improvements.

1. (i) In our view, there should be a Guideline by the Central government in respect of each Central or Centrally-sponsored scheme in the field of welfare and development that its distribution and benefit all social groups including the Muslim community should receive due share in proportion to its population at the distribution level.

(ii) It would be better to indicate the level of desirable allocation to the  government institutions which are related to welfare of the Muslim community.

(iii) It should be possible to indicate effective steps for protection and utilization of the Wakf property. We suggest suitable amendment to the Wakf Act 1995 at the earliest possible, particularly to exempt Public Wakf properties from rent control and urban and rural land ceiling legislations and their declaration as ‘public premises’ for purpose of vacation of unlawful occupation. We also suggest that all Wakf properties which are occupied by the Central or state government or any official agency should be restored to the Wakf Board concerned or lease at market rate.

            (vi) This should apply not only to Muslim populated villages and wards but to all deprived areas.

            (v) We are not in favour of exclusive housing schemes for the Community but for ensuring that in all government and government-sponsored housing schemes, the eligible section of the Muslim community should receive its proportionate share according to its local population.

2. (i) There cannot be reservation for Dalit Muslims (and Christians) unless the Presidential Order of 1950 is amended to include Dalit Muslims and Christians. In any case Dalit Muslims only constitute 1.3% of the total Muslim population. We would like the Muslim community whose level of backwardness, according to Sachar Report, is or more or less the same as that of SC/ST be declared a Backward Class as in Karnataka.

   (ii) The Muslim OBC’s should have a sub quota out of existing OBC quota in   

      proportion to their population among OBC’s.

        (iii) We would like Muslims to be represented in the Central and state     

      security forces through recruitments in proportion to their population in the    

      zone of selection

       (iv) Representation of Muslims in Recruitment Boards of Selection

Committees has not been found very effective.

       (v) Here again there should be no exclusive provision for Muslims but for all    

artisans and self-employed persons also should receive soft credit easily 

from all banks, under DRI scheme, and Muslim applicants should receive  

due share in proportion to their population in operational area of each 

bank.

       (vi) This should apply generally to all women.

       (vii) Skill development programme to upgrade traditional skills should be

organized wherever possible for all groups, and not only for Muslims.

(viii) Opportunity for Muslims in allocation of residential plots, shops etc can be ensured, only if the Guidelines provide for benefits to Muslim in the distribution area in proportion of their population.

3. (i) Schools, particularly primary schools, must be opened in all deprived villages and mohallas and their level of deprivation should be monitored with reference to national norm.

(ii) We endorse the suggestion

            (iii) In case of stipends and scholarships we suggest that there should be common pool for pre-matrics, undergraduates and post graduates and Muslims should get a proportional share in the zone of selection.

     (vi) We strongly urge that the medium of primary education for children  

     must be the mother tongue and therefore Urdu should be the medium of  

     primary education, for all Urdu speaking children, without any numerical 

     limit, and they should be taught Urdu as a compulsory First Language at  

     the secondary level, with the Principal Language of the state (if different      

     from the Mother Tongue) as the compulsory Second Language. This  

     should apply to all parts of a state and not only to areas with substantial 

     Urdu speaking population.     

     (v) We do not regard the West Bengal Madaras and their syllabus as   

     models because the Madrasas have been defacto converted into schools. 

     Such government Madrasas should be constituted as secondary schools.  

     As for primary Madrasas, we suggest the Keral Model with every Muslim 

     child attending both the local Mauktab and school and a primary school for 

     the first 5 years. The Central or state government may offer grant-aid to

     provide Madarsa for recruiting teachers for non-religious subjects and

     purchase all materials, the state should as far as possible detach itself 

     from incurring expenditure on religious education.

(vi) Once again we urge that vocational training facilities should be    

      universalized for all drop-outs and matric-failed students.

4.  (i) We endorse the suggestion but we would like to add that 1984   

      ‘package’ should apply retrospectively to all victims of communal violence 

      since 1984.

      (ii), (iii) and (iv). We endorse the suggestion.

We would be grateful if you kindly consider the suggestions that we have made. We would be glad to discuss them further with you or your nominee, if invited.

With best wishes,

                                                                         Yours sincerely,

                                                                    (Syed Shahabuddin)

Shri Prakash Karat

General Secretary CPI(M),

      A.K. Gopala Bhavan,

Bhai Mahavir Singh Marg,

Golmarket, New Delhi –1