Sachar Committee report as "full of prejudices" and said it would create disharmony

The BJP rejected the Sachar Committee report as "full of prejudices" and said it would create disharmony in the society.The party also attacked the committee's composition saying it had no woman member despite the fairer sex making up a large population of the Muslim community in the country. Reacting to the findings of the seven-member committee on social, economic and educational status of Muslims, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said her party believed the report would create disharmony in society. "Much effort has gone into it, but it has gone in wrong direction. This report reflects a pseudo vision and is full of biases and prejudices," she said. The BJP leader flayed the committee for recommending nomination procedures to increase participation of minorities in public bodies. "Such recommendations will only let loose scorpions that will sting everyone. The report will only help widen rifts," Swaraj, who also objected to purported media leaks of the committee's findings before their tabling in Parliament, said. She blamed the Congress for the present socio-economic condition of the community in the country, citing the party's more than half-a-decade rule at the Centre. The report comes ahead of key elections in Uttar Pradesh, home to a large population of Muslims.

She also slammed former Delhi High Chief Justice Rajindar Sachar for seeking information on Muslims in armed forces as she read out his foreward that he, however, did not used such data he received from the Government.

The Sachar committee's report on the socio-economic status of Muslims across the country is expected to be placed in Parliament on Monday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunsi last week said that the government plans to table the report on November 27.

The report is being tabled when a controversy is raging over reservations for Muslims. The main opposition BJP, which accuses the ruling Congress of indulging in politics of minority appeasement, is likely to make the report a major issue.

The Sachar committee had created an uproar in Parliament last year due to the panel's reported move to seek a headcount of Muslims in the defence forces.

The seven-member committee headed by Rajinder Sachar, a former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, was set up to go into the social, economic and educational status of Muslims.

The committee, which submitted its report on November 17, was set up in March this year and its tenure was extended up to November 30.

Sachar, who also made a presentation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the day of the report's presentation, said that the document was unanimous and there was no dissenting voice.

The report came against the backdrop of the Prime Minister's observation that Muslims should get a "fair share", which triggered a debate.