Lucknow, April 9
In the light of reports that Muslims were “confused” as whom to vote for in the in coming Lok Sabha election, the Samajwadi Party today released its election manifesto with a desire to woo back Muslims back to its party fold.

Besides assuring allocation of 80 per cent of the budget for rural development, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, showcased his party’s road map to woo back Muslims.

Fifteen of the 19 promises made under the head of ‘social change’ focus largely on Muslims. The SP has promised reservation for Muslims in government jobs, medical and technical institutions, promotion of Urdu and its linkage with employment generated programmes and reconstitution of the Shanti Suraksha Bal, a combat force to deal with communal riots.

He, however, also promised reservation for economical backwards among the upper caste.

Mulayam Singh said his government would not interfere in the Muslim personal law and would ensure safety of all religious places. He also promised revision of all text books in which interpolations were made with the intent of distorting historical facts about Muslims.

The SP also promised to solve the vexed Ayodhya issue either through dialogue or through court intervention.

He, however, skirted the question as to why his government had refused to issue a fresh notification to revive the criminal proceedings against Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani for his alleged role in the demolition of the Babri Masjid,.

Mr Mulayam Singh also emphasised on “doing away with borders and passport formalities” between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The manifesto talks about rooting out corruption, improving the lot of farmers and creating more employment opportunities, but does not say how these promises would be fulfilled.

Asked why he did not agree to the opposition call for a united candidate against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow, the Samajwadi Party chief said, “No party approached me to discuss that. Yes, Mr Ram Jethmalani spoke to me two days back but I told him that now it was too late in the day and if the other parties are keen on a united nominee, why don’t they support my party candidate Madhu Gupta.”

He refused to have anything to do with the National Democratic Alliance’s renewed tirade on the Bofors issue.