NEW DELHI: The government intends to discuss 'Muslim demands' related to education, entrepreneurship, skill development and security concerns in the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, in what is seen as a massive build up to the poll effort in Uttar Pradesh.
The CCPA meeting will involve Congress's allies as well with the Cabinet panel seen as a forum to debate key political issues. The pro-active approach to the UP election next year, billed as a crucial test for the party's bid to regain salience in north India, will be led by Rahul Gandhi.
The move is critical for the UP poll which will set the tone for the Lok Sabha showdown in 2014. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought the CCPA meeting following a wish list drawn by Planning Commission based on discussions with community representatives, sources said.
The charter to be discussed focuses on the controversial conclusion of the Sachar commissionthat "Muslims were worse off than dalits and tribals". While SCs resented the statement as ignoring the social handicap of untouchability faced by dalits over centuries, Muslims welcomed it as a summary of their status.
The minority affairs ministry, headed by Congress's Muslim face from UP, Salman Khurshid, moved a plan with detailed demands keeping the 12th five-year plan as the rollout period for proposals approved by the Centre. Khurshid has spoken of job quotas without referring to deadlines.
The CCPA discussion in coming weeks will coincide with a full-throated Congress campaign to capture voter interest in UP. While Muslims backed the party to the full in the 2009 Lok Sabha poll, opening the state to a three-way split of seats in the "secular camp", the party is not too sure if this will be repeated in an assembly contest.
With the principal choice broadly restricted to regional players, the calculus for a state poll is likely to be different and may not necessarily benefit Congress. A fresh outreach is seen as part of the strategy to reassert its claim as the chief champion of Muslim interests.
The top-level discussion on Muslim problems would be in line with Congress's focus on the community, starting with the controversial Sachar commission set up to map its backwardness, followed by the formation of a dedicated ministry at the Centre. The overdrive, however, has not stopped stray voices from saying that the initiatives were inadequate.
The sensitive demand for Muslim reservation in jobs and education is a contentious issue staring Congress in the face while failure to deliver the communal violence bill in the face of opposition from regional parties and BJP has disappointed the community.
Congress is eager to encash its welfare initiatives in UP, with a plan to again underline its commitment to quell doubts raised by failures on key points like quota and communal violence bill.
What lends a 'UP focus' to the proposed CCPA meeting on "Muslims problems" is that it brings to fruition the PM's directions issued in February. Sources said it needs to be seen in conjunction with Congress's campaign plan finalized this week. Besides Rahul Gandhi's roadshow across the state, the party has planned special meetings in key Muslim cities to woo the community to counter the 'secular' challenge from Samajwadi Party and BSP.
On the table is a demand for a ten-fold hike in the budget of minority ministry. The community wants open-ended scholarship scheme, available to all eligible Muslim children as in the case of SCs and STs. It is presently limited to funds available with the minority ministry.
The Centre is looking at using blocks as units for allocating resources for 'Muslim concentration districts' for infrastructure development. As smaller units, the blocks have concentrated community presence contrary to large units like districts where funds can be diverted to pockets without adequate Muslim population.
The CCPA meeting will involve Congress's allies as well with the Cabinet panel seen as a forum to debate key political issues. The pro-active approach to the UP election next year, billed as a crucial test for the party's bid to regain salience in north India, will be led by Rahul Gandhi.
The move is critical for the UP poll which will set the tone for the Lok Sabha showdown in 2014. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought the CCPA meeting following a wish list drawn by Planning Commission based on discussions with community representatives, sources said.
The charter to be discussed focuses on the controversial conclusion of the Sachar commissionthat "Muslims were worse off than dalits and tribals". While SCs resented the statement as ignoring the social handicap of untouchability faced by dalits over centuries, Muslims welcomed it as a summary of their status.
The minority affairs ministry, headed by Congress's Muslim face from UP, Salman Khurshid, moved a plan with detailed demands keeping the 12th five-year plan as the rollout period for proposals approved by the Centre. Khurshid has spoken of job quotas without referring to deadlines.
The CCPA discussion in coming weeks will coincide with a full-throated Congress campaign to capture voter interest in UP. While Muslims backed the party to the full in the 2009 Lok Sabha poll, opening the state to a three-way split of seats in the "secular camp", the party is not too sure if this will be repeated in an assembly contest.
With the principal choice broadly restricted to regional players, the calculus for a state poll is likely to be different and may not necessarily benefit Congress. A fresh outreach is seen as part of the strategy to reassert its claim as the chief champion of Muslim interests.
The top-level discussion on Muslim problems would be in line with Congress's focus on the community, starting with the controversial Sachar commission set up to map its backwardness, followed by the formation of a dedicated ministry at the Centre. The overdrive, however, has not stopped stray voices from saying that the initiatives were inadequate.
The sensitive demand for Muslim reservation in jobs and education is a contentious issue staring Congress in the face while failure to deliver the communal violence bill in the face of opposition from regional parties and BJP has disappointed the community.
Congress is eager to encash its welfare initiatives in UP, with a plan to again underline its commitment to quell doubts raised by failures on key points like quota and communal violence bill.
What lends a 'UP focus' to the proposed CCPA meeting on "Muslims problems" is that it brings to fruition the PM's directions issued in February. Sources said it needs to be seen in conjunction with Congress's campaign plan finalized this week. Besides Rahul Gandhi's roadshow across the state, the party has planned special meetings in key Muslim cities to woo the community to counter the 'secular' challenge from Samajwadi Party and BSP.
On the table is a demand for a ten-fold hike in the budget of minority ministry. The community wants open-ended scholarship scheme, available to all eligible Muslim children as in the case of SCs and STs. It is presently limited to funds available with the minority ministry.
The Centre is looking at using blocks as units for allocating resources for 'Muslim concentration districts' for infrastructure development. As smaller units, the blocks have concentrated community presence contrary to large units like districts where funds can be diverted to pockets without adequate Muslim population.
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