6 March, 2007

My dear Asghar Bhai,

I thank you for your e-mail of 2 March, 2007 asking me to sign a petition

for the implementation of the Sachar Committee Report. I read through the petition. I feel that instead of simply asking for the implementation of the Report or even its proposals on general and specific policy initiative, we should concretize specific points for action by the Government, and without amending the Constitution or any fresh Legislation. The Government has not given any hint of implementing the Report in the recent budget exercise. I think it is awaiting the discussion on the Report in the Parliament. What we should do is to press the Government that at the end of the discussion, in its reply it should come out with a Minority Package. We have distilled the Report and have prepared a 15 Points Charter of Aspirations which we attach for your consideration.

With kind regards,

                                                                                                Yours sincerely,

                                                                                                (Syed Shahabuddin)

Mr. Asghar Ali Engineer,

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism,

602 & 603, Silver Star, 6^th Floor,

Santacruz (E),

Mumbai – 400 055