Narendra Modi bats for BC Muslims

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the BJP to reach out to the backward sections in the Muslim community over his effort to accord Constitutional status to the OBC Commission.

Mr Modi made an intervention during a discussion on a party resolution on his government’s Bill to accord Constitutional status to the OBC Commission, in his speech on the concluding day of the party’s two-day national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar.

He said more inclusiveness was needed for backwards among the Muslim community.

He noted that some backward sections in the community enjoyed OBC quota benefits, and such a commission will look into their concerns as well.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar said, “MPs, including those from the Congress, had met PM Modi in Parliament and urged him to take steps to grant Constitutional status to the OBC Commission. The OBC Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha. But in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress blocked it. It is really unfortunate,” the minister said.

The PM said the new Bill meant to give Constitutional status to the commission, was meant to replace the National Commission for BCs set up in 1993.

“In many regions, there are Muslims who are backward. The party and governments should ensure that they benefit from the new commission,” the PM said.