New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
is likely to write to state governments to vacate Wakf
properties occupied by them, Minorities Affairs Minister
Salman Khurshid said on Friday.
"I have requested the Prime Minister to write to the
state governments urging them to vacate Wakf properties
without litigation which either the state governments or
Central agencies have occupied," Khurshid told reporters here.
He said the states would also be requested to provide
compensation to Wakf boards if the properties cannot be
vacated.
"This will happen after the Wakf Amendment Bill gets
clearance from Parliament. While Lok Sabha had cleared it in
the Budget session, it is pending with the Rajya Sabha.
Asked about the much-hyped Equal Opportunities
Commission (EOC), he said initiatives for the proposed body
were on the right track.
"Two meetings of the Group of Ministers headed by
Defence Minister A K Antony have already taken place. A third
meeting is likely soon," he said.
The Union minister also scoffed at suggestions that
the proposed panel will undermine the role of other bodies
like the Minorities Commission.
"While the EOC will ensure that minorities get a fair
representation in education and jobs, the Minority Commission
swings into action when the rights of the minorities are
violated," he explained.
He said the proposed commission will have the mandate
of recommending incentives and disincentives on organisations
which provide, or fail to provide, equal opportunities to
minorities.
To a question on `affirmative action` of the
Government for inclusive growth, he said as Minister of
Corporate Affairs, he has been in touch with the private
sector which was willing to take initiatives.
"The software sector is willing to open schools and
train members of the minority community to ensure that they
get opportunities to compete at a later date," he said.
PTI
