Quota for Muslims soon: Rahul

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday the central government, led by his party, would soon announce reservation for the Muslims in government jobs.

UP, which is going to polls next year, has the highest Muslim population in the country. Of UP’s population of 200 million, 17-18% is Muslim.

Gandhi said the issue was under the party’s consideration and a decision would be taken soon.

Addressing a huge rally in Badaun, considered to be stronghold of the Samajwadi Party (SP), which strongly espouses the cause of the Muslims, Gandhi said the Congress was committed to the welfare of the minority community in the country.

Recounting the welfare measures taken for the Muslim community by Congress-ruled states, Rahul Gandhi said the UP government had failed to implement central government schemes for the minorities in the state.

Gandhi was critical of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for opposing English education and the promotion of computers.

“His son (Akhilesh Yadav) can use computers and speak English but the poor people cannot,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi recalled how the opposition had targeted his father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi, for introducing computers and communication technology in the 1980s.

Now their benefits had revolutionised the nation, he said.