Indian state debates Muslim status

The government of the north-eastern Indian state of Assam has appointed a cabinet committee to consider the possibility of giving the state's Muslim population the official status of a backward class.

Under Indian law, backward class status for a community often means that its members qualify for preferential recruitment and promotions in government jobs.

A senior minister of the state government, Bhumidar Barman, said that no decision had been taken on the matter.

The committee was appointed, he said, to look into the demand which came from the state's Muslim minority.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service