New Delhi: The government's decision to create a new ministry for minority affairs has come under sharp criticism from the Opposition.
The undefined jurisdiction of the ministry and the new work allocation may also find some criticism within the government itself.
BJP Spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad says, "This government is once again indulging in minority appeasement."
Under fire from the Opposition even before he has been alloted work, Minister for Minority Affairs, Abdul Rehman Antuley, for the moment is operating from his house in the Capital.
A new ministry has been carved out for Antuley, the first minister in the history of post-independence India looking exclusively into minority affairs. He has his task cut out for him - from Haj to AMU reservation, Antuley says he will look into everything concerning the minorities.
Creation of the new ministry for minority affairs has once again triggered this debate on secularism versus pseudo secularism in the country.
The new ministry will also have an impact on the work allocation among various ministries at the Centre.
For instance, the Ministry of Social Justice has a seperate department for minority affairs. The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Meera Kumar, may now have to share power with Antuley.
Antuley will also have a say in Haj matters, which have been under the External Affairs Ministry till now.
Minority education, which comes under the Human Resource Development Ministry will also see Antuley playing an active role in its matters and HRD Minister Arjun Singh may not be the only minister speaking out on the contentious AMU minority reservation.
However Singh is adamant that minority education will remain under him and that he will not share it with any other minister.
The Cabinet Secretariet is yet to allocate work to the newly created ministry, but clearly the ripples of the minority report are being felt within.
(With inputs from
Sumit Pande)
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