NEW DELHI – The Indian home ministry on Tuesday said for recruitment incentral paramilitary forces religion is not a criteria.
The ministry’s assertion came after AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi accusedthe Centre of neglecting Muslims and demanded that Prime Minister NarendraModi tell how many of them got government jobs, including in centralparamilitary forces.
“Religion is not a criteria for recruitment in paramilitary forces. Thereis no room for any religion in the recruitment process,” a home ministryspokesperson said.
At a press conference in Hyderabad, Owaisi asked, “In the last four years,under central sector, whether banks, whether railways, central paramilitaryforces… How many recruitments of minorities have taken place?”
Central paramilitary forces — the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG andAssam Rifles — function under the home ministry. The total strength ofthese forces is around 10 lakh personnel.