Date:30/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093060470800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

White paper on minority issues sought

Staff Reporter

BJP charges minority educational institutions with ‘selling’ seats

Traditional tribute: BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya blowing the ‘kalikom’ the traditional musical instrument of Gond tribesmen at the martyrs column in Indervelli on Monday.

ADILABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Bandaru Dattatreya on Monday demanded the Government issue a white paper on minority issues. He charged the Congress of indulging in mere vote bank policies through appeasement of minority communities. As an example, he quoted the functioning of minority educational institutions that were facing flak for collecting huge amounts of money even from students belonging to minority communities. Seats were being sold in utter disregard to their own status, he said.

Addressing a press conference on the second day of his ‘Telangana Sankalpa’ yatra, Mr. Dattatreya reiterated his party’s stand on the issue of reservation for Muslims. He said despite its best efforts, the Congress failed to garner sufficient majority in the Parliament to get the Muslim Reservation Bill passed.

Mr. Dattatreya criticised the Congress government on its ‘failure’ on internal security. On the separate Telangana issue, he said some parties have got in touch with the BJP. Later, proceeding towards Utnoor, the BJP leader stopped at Indervelli martyrs column to pay homage to the tribals who were killed in the infamous firing.