Referring the policies by the Centre for minorities Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, “It was Congress which implemented policies for the minorities. Congress implemented the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. For the first time in the history, a separate ministry for the minorities was formed. We also gave loan worth five lakh crores of rupees under the Prime Minister’s fifteen point programme for minorities. Under Sarva Shiksha Abiyan several new schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas were opened at various minority dominated areas. We also increased the budget for the Maulana Azad Foundation to provide financial assistance for the modernization of the madrasas.