CAN THERE BE ANY MORE CONVINCING PROOF OF HIGH-HANDED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIAN MUSLIMS BY THE SECULAR CONGRESS LED INDIAN GOVERNMENT?

CAN THERE BE ANY MORE CONVINCING PROOF OF HIGH-HANDED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIAN MUSLIMS BY THE SECULAR CONGRESS LED INDIAN GOVERNMENT?

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rs-4-500-cr-for-dalit-welfare-rs-2-600-cr-for-muslims/585050/0

Rs 4,500 cr for Dalit welfare, Rs 2,600 cr for Muslims

Manoj C G , J.P. YadavTags : dalit welfare, muslims, union budget, indiaPosted: Saturday , Feb 27, 2010 at 0144 hrs
New Delhi:

The Congress’s ongoing drive to win back Dalits and Muslims, evident in general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s visits to Dalit homes and Digvijay Singh’s visit to Azamgarh, found a reflection in the Budget proposals on Friday with an increased allocation of 80 per cent for the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry and 50 per cent for the Minority Affairs Ministry.

Plan allocation for the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, which mainly deals with the welfare of SCs, increased from last year’s Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 4,500 crore while for the Minority Affairs Ministry, which is concerned more with Muslim welfare, the figure rose from Rs 1,740 crore to Rs 2,600 crore. For Bundelkhand, an additional allocation of Rs 1,200 crore was made.

The total plan allocation under different heads meant for the welfare of the SCs increased from Rs 1,788 crore last year to Rs 3,142 crore. Allocation for post-matric scholarship for SC students was more than doubled from Rs 818 crore to Rs 1,675 crore. Though the Ministry also deals with the welfare of OBCs, a small portion of the total allocation is earmarked for the section. That too, however, saw a jump from Rs 218 crore to Rs 413 crore.

Pradhanmantri Adarsh Gram Yojna, the scheme for integrated development of SC-dominated villages in the country, was allocated Rs 388 crore compared to Rs 98 crore in the last Budget. The scheme announced in the last Budget would be taken up as a pilot project in some states, and Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress is eyeing to regain power, figures prominently.

Similarly, for pre-matric scholarships for minorities, the allocation was more than doubled, with the government earmarking Rs 400 crore under this head in comparison to Rs 176.99 crore allocated in the last Budget. Post-matric scholarships and merit-cum-means scholarships saw considerable increase too, with allocation under post-matric scholarships going up to Rs 234 crore from Rs 132 crore. Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities being implemented in 90 minority-concentrated districts of the country, too, saw a significant jump from Rs 873 crore to Rs 1,223 crore.

“With the much-needed enhancement in allocation, we will now be able to carry out revision in the rates of post-matric scholarships for SCs and OBCs,” said Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik.

Asked if the enhanced allocation would help the Congress woo the “Dalit-Muslim” votebank, he said: “The Congress has always been committed to the empowerment of the deprived sections. The enhanced allocation reaffirms our commitment to the deprived sections.”