In its desperate efforts to win back the trust of a community that gave up on the Congress after the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque, the party has launched a calculated campaign that is visible on many fronts.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's presence at a conference of the Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind here Sunday was another indication that her party is courting a community that once was its loyal backer, particularly in the Hindi-speaking belt in northern and central India.

And with the Congress fortunes not picking up in populous Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, party strategists say they need to concentrate on one large group so that the party is able to stand on its own legs effectively in both states.

Gandhi's appearance at the meeting of the Jamiat, which claims the support of well over 10 million Muslims, is expected to go down well with the minority community, Congress leaders say.

Ever since it came to power in 2004, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has taken a series of measures to please Muslims. India is home to some 140 million Muslims, the world's second largest Islamic population after Indonesia.

The government has appointed a national commission to identify the welfare measures of socially and economically backward sections among the religious and linguistic minorities. A high level committee chaired by Justice Rajinder Sachar has been asked to prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community.

The central government has also decided to provide 50 percent reservation for Muslims at the Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh.

But a section of the opposition as well as Left parties that back the government have criticised the move as an act of minority appeasement. Some Muslim academics in the university have also attacked the reservation policy.

Although community leaders appreciate these moves, they underline that the biggest achievement of the Congress government has been to end the "atmosphere of violence" in the air. Efforts are also on to take away the "charges of terrorists" slapped against jailed Muslims in Gujarat.

Quamin Rashool Illyas, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, told IANS: "Yes, it is true that Muslims are feeling more secure now. There is an atmosphere of peace and security."

He also appreciated the government's initiatives in bringing new legislation for communal harmony.

"Merely by appointing committees no one can uplift the Muslim community. We need to be realistic. One year is not enough to pass a judgment on this government," Illyas said.

"We are looking forward to the implementation of the common minimum programme (the agenda for governance for the coalition government). Let's see how sincere they are."

Syed Shahabuddin, a prominent Muslim political leader now with the Congress, agreed. "It is good that the government is concerned about the welfare of the community," he said, welcoming the government's efforts to "correct" history textbooks.

However, there are disappointments too. Muslim leaders in the Congress themselves complain about the government's hesitation in reconstituting the Central Haj Committee (which they say is filled with BJP loyalists), the Central Wakf Council and the National Minorities Commission.

Critics say the Congress is playing "vote bank politics" while trying to regain Muslim support especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

"That's not true. Whatever steps we have taken in favour of the minority communities were well in consonance with the Indian constitution," argued Devendra Dwivedi, a senior Congress leader.

"Due to historical reasons, the minority communities, especially Muslims, need special protection and support. It's a pre-requisite for their social and economical development," Dwivedi said.

"It's the tragedy of politics that everything is attributed to appeasement and vote bank."