By TCN Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: The National Movement for Muslim Reservation (NMMR) in its one step forward to press the demand for Muslim reservation (as recommended by Rangnath Mishra Commission) organized a National Meet of Reservation Activists here at India Islamic Cultural Centre today. NMMR demanded inclusion of Muslims and Christian Dalits in SC lists and reservation for religious minorities.
While putting their demands, Muslim activists from across the nation said, “We demand reservation for Muslims because they are 1/6th of the Indian population and it can’t develop without development of Muslims”.
L-R- Mujtaba Farooq, Saiyid Hamid, Abusaleh Shareef, Syed Shahabuddin, Zafar Saifullah [TCN photo]
Saiyid Hamid, eminent educationist, Chancellor of Hamdard University and former member of Sachar Committee, while inaugurating the meet confessed, “Earlier, I used to equate reservation for Muslims against the dignity and self-esteem of the community. But I was wrong and mistaken”. Recalling his experience, Mr. Hamid said, “My tireless efforts and engagement in the field of community development over a period of three decades made me rethink about my earlier stand, and as a result of that now I think , it is the need of hour that Muslim should get reservation at the earliest.”
Earlier, Syed Shahabuddin, Convener of NMMR in his introductory remarks informed, “Unlike other meet, this is not a public program rather a process of collective thinking to lay down broad strategy and concrete plan of action”.
Eminent economist and former member Secretary, Sachar Committee, Dr. Abu Saleh Shareef in his opening remarks urged, “We have to make concrete and constant efforts to turn our demand of reservation for Muslims into reality.” He further said, “Today Muslims are one of the most backward and unprivileged sections of our country as clearly noted by Sachar Committee report. Hence, it is the duty of government to provide reservations to Muslims”.
Joining the discussion, P A Inamdar, famous educationist and leader of backward classes in Maharashtra talked about problems at state levels and suggested to fulfill all the legal requirements for reservation. He also asked the house to think about, how the discrepancies in state and central lists of OBCs corrected.
Muslim Reservation Activists
Shahid Siddiqui, former MP and Editor, Nai Duniya Urdu Weekly said, “All apprehensions and allegations regarding the movement are baseless but this demand can be only turned into reality by consistent and concentrated efforts”. Mr. Siddiqui also suggested working on all fronts – legal, administrative, political, public as well as media simultaneously.
Explaining the Bengal experience, Siddiqullah Chaudhary, who has recently succeeded to avail 10 percent reservation for OBC Muslims in West Bangal called for political empowerment and unity. “It’s all matter of strength, until you show power, you will not be given your even legitimate due. That’s what we have learned”, he asserted.
Later, in his presidential remarks of second session of the meet, Zafar Saifullah, former Cabinet Secretary, Govt. of India hoped that Muslims will get the reservation because it is their legitimate right. He also said, primarily Muslims are not getting reservation benefit because of lack of political will.
Syed Shahabuddin, Convener of NMMR while talking to TCN about future plan of action said, “We will use all democratic methods to put forward our demands and that will be decided time to time as per the requirement”.
Others who spoke at the occasion and expressed their solidarity include Akhtarul Iman, MLA Bihar, Abdul Hameed Nomani, Secretary, Jamiat Ulema Hind, Mujtaba Farooq, Secretary, Jamaat e Islami Hind, Prof. Humayun Murad, Shabbir Ahmad Khan, Muslim members of political parties including BJP.