Hyderabad reservation conf: Muslim leaders to launch national movement
Submitted by admin3 on 14 March 2010 - 7:56pm
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: Yesterday evening witnessed history being written in Hyderabad when leaving behind political, sectarian and regional affiliations Muslim leaders as well as huge common masses assembled in the sprawling Darus Salaam compound to announce: We want reservation. Only this will undo injustice to us since Independence. It is our right. We will take it. At any cost. And we are united and one for it.
The five-hour long Muslim reservation conference which ended exactly at 12 in the night at the headquarters of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen in the heart of once capital city of Nizam rule sent hope across that it will herald a new dawn of Muslim empowerment not only in the Deccan but in the entire country. If at one hand there were Muslim religious leaders representing the entire Muslim community, there were state politicians from MIM, Congress and rival Telugu Desham Party from Andhra Pradesh and Muslim Rajya Sabha Members from Janata Dal United, Lok Janshakti Party and Samajwadi Party.
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The massive gathering of more than 50,000 people, mostly young switching off their TV sets when IPL matches were on, demanded justice as it was not done in the last 60 years to the Muslim community in the country, and this can be done only through reservation, they said.
The conference, held at the end of a month-long campaign by Muttaheda Majlise Amal, an umbrella body of several Muslim organizations, with Majlise Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) as the leading group, put four demands before the state and central government: Restore 4% reservation to Backward Class Muslims in Andhra Pradesh; give quota to Muslim women within the women reservation bill of 33% in parliament, state assemblies and all elected bodies; implement Sachar and Fatmi Committee Reports; give 10% reservation to the Muslim community as recommended by Ranganath Mishra Commission.
The leaders clearly asked the political parties and governments to stop using Muslims as vote bank and prove their sincerity for the welfare of the community by providing them with reservation in education, employment and elected houses.
Asaduddin Owaisi, Member Lok Sabha from Hyderabad and chief of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen which led the one-month campaign for Muslim reservation in the state under the banner of Muslim Muttaheda Majlise Amal, was categorical on all burning issues related to reservation.
“Today we are writing a history here at this ground. We are from Congress, TDP, MIM, Jamiat Ulema and others but we are Muslims first and one on the issue of reservation. People have come from all parts of Andhra Pradesh. They are from different political parties. They are Sunnis and Shias, they are from Jamiat Ulema and other groups, but they all are united—a clear message to the government that Muslims have got united on the issue of reservation,” said Owaisi, second time Lok Sabha member from this city. His party MIM has 7 MLAs from Hyderabad in the state Assembly.
“When we visited districts, Muslims from all sections and political affiliations attended the gatherings and demanded reservation. Muslims have woken up and want reservation at any cost because they have been discriminated by plan and at a large scale,” said Owaisi, who is called "Naqeeb e Millat" by his supporters. He gave data to prove his point: Of every 100 graduates in the country, only 3 are Muslims. The community is 6% below the average national literacy rate (65%). Most of the people who live in kuccha houses, rented houses and poor urban areas are Muslims. They share 33% of poverty in urban areas in the country. They are on top in child labor. “Tell us how we reached this situation. Is it justice? Has anyone done justice to us? We want to live with dignity. We want our rights. Reservation is our right and we will take it,” roared the man who generally leads Muslim Lok Sabha Members when it comes to put issues of community and country in the House.
“Today in this massive ijtema, Muslims have come from Telangana, Rayal Seema, Coastal Andhra cutting across affiliations, to tell the government we want reservation. If Congress does not give us reservation, they will not get vote in 2014 assembly elections,” he warned. “Congress can’t go away saying ‘we gave you reservation, court took it away. They are in politics for 100 years. They know how to use political power. They will have to open door of power on Muslims. They will have to find way out of the legal tangle on Muslim quota,” Owaisi said.
On women reservation bill he said: We are not against women reservation bill, we just want quota for Muslim women in the 33% quota for women. They would say Muslims are not allowing their women out. Their women are not progressing. They would even demand change in personal law for ‘welfare’ of Muslim women. Now the same people are not ready to give quota to Muslim women. And when we demand it they say we are against women reservation. Giving the plight of Muslim women he said: of 7906 MPs in Independent India, there are only 14 Muslim women. Isn’t our demand for quota within quota justified?”
“But when are opposing the women reservation bill in its present form, they say we are against women. How can we against women when our religion Islam – and no other religion – said paradise is beneath the feet of your mother? Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married a widow and raised the status of women in the society but you put your widows on fire alive.”
Highlighting injustice in the last 60 years to Muslims, Owaisi gave data: of 7906 MPs so far in the country, Muslims are only 470. In 148 Lok Sabha seats of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra combine, there is only one Muslim MP – that is Owaisi from Hyderabad. In 11 states there is no Muslim MP. Moreover, there is no Muslim secretary out of 80 secretaries in the central government.
He rejected the view that reservation cannot be given to Muslims on the basis of reservation.
“When people say Muslims can’t be given reservation on the basis of religion, I ask, what is the 1950 constitutional order? Isn’t it discrimination on the basis of religion when it says that Dalits can be only Hindus, Sikhs or Buddhists. That order is a blot on the Constitution,” Owaisi said.
Cutting across party lines, Muslim politicians were united on the issue of Muslim reservation.
Ejaz Ali, Rajya Sabha Member from Bihar (JD-U) supported 4% quota for Muslims in AP, quota within quota for women and SC status to Dalit Muslims.
“Amend Article 341 and include Dalit Muslims in the category of Scheduled Castes list,” he demanded and added that government is not doing it even after the reports of Rajindra Sachar and Ranganath Mishra.
“The 4% quota for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh was genuine and justified but government deliberately left loopholes so that it could be rejected. Political parities have just used us as vote bank and exploited us but never did any serious work for our welfare. Congress and BJP are same as far as policy of discrimination against Muslims is concerned.”
On women quota bill, he said: “We will not allow women reservation bill passed until provision for Muslim women is included. When we raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, we were kicked out of the House.”
Sabir Ali, Member Rajya Sabha from Bihar (Lok Janshakti Party) called upon the Muslim community to come to street for reservation.
“If you do not give us 4% reservation that is less than half of our requirement we will take it at any cost. We will launch a public movement. Do not test our patience. If we decide to come out on the street, the situation will be difficult to control,” said Ali. Making an emotional call, he said Muslims should come out to use their power, to wage a war against injustice. We were 313 and defeated the world. Now we are 25 crore in India, one can guess what can happen.”
“We were pushed out of the House when we demanded quota for Muslim women in the women reservation bill but we will not sit and continue our fight for quota within quota.”
Kamal Ahmed, Member Rajya Sabha from UP (Samajwadi Party) also addressed the gathering and talked about injustice to Muslims in Independent India. “Even 30 years after Moradabad riots, the victims are yet to get justice, and guilty are yet to be punished. Congress ruled the county most of the time after Independence and Muslims were gradually destroyed through communal riots. Killers of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were hanged but none of the culprits of Moradabad and Maliyana riots and Gujarat riots were punished.”
State Muslim politicians were also seen sharing their views with other Muslim politicians.
Mohd Ali Shabbir, ex-Minister, Congress said his party is honest and acted on its election promise and gave 5% reservation but communal elements approached the court and got it stayed. Our government is determined for Muslim reservation. We have approached the Supreme Court against the Andhra High Court order.
Lal Jaan Pasha, ex-MP, Telugu Desham Party: We wanted to give reservation to Muslims safely from legal tangle. We wanted to give 3% so it does not cross the upper limit of 50% reservation but Congress took it and gave 5% though they knew this will be challenged. He called upon Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen to go ahead on the issue as other secular parties have speed breakers on minority issues.
Several religious leaders also addressed the mammoth rally. They included Shia cleric Maulana Syed Taqi Raza Abidi, President, Tanzeem Jafariya, Maulana Masood Hussain Mujtahedi of Mahdavi sect, Maulana Syed Qubool Pasha Quadri Shuttari, secretary, Sadar Majlis Ulemae Deccan, Maulana Syed Mohd Auliya Hussaini Quadri Murtaza Pasha, Member, Majlise Ulema e Deccan, Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed (MLC), President, Jamiat Ulema e Hind (Mahmood Madani group), Mufti Ghayasuddin Rahmani, President, Jamiat Ulema e Hind (Arshad Madani group) Maulana Syed Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini, Ameer, Jamia Nizamia.
The conference was presided over by Maulana Abdur Raheem Qureshi, President, All India Majlis Tameer Millat and Secretary, All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
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RESERVATION FOR DALIT MUSLIMS
The Struggle of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians for
scheduled caste status
There is no reason to not include Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in the
category of Scheduled Castes because these Dalits share the same socioeconomic
status, and stigma also, as their counterparts in the Hindu
community, concludes the report prepared by National Commission of
Minorities (NCM).
The report titled “Dalits in the Muslim and Christian Communities: A Status
Report on Current Social Scientific Knowledge” reveals that economically and
educationally, the condition of Dalit Muslims is generally poorer than other
Dalits, and Dalit Christians too lag behind upper caste Christians on that
front. The NCM thinks that the report is an important development in that the
courts have been repeatedly asking for objective data for providing
constitutional facilities to Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians also. And it
rightly thinks so.
Discussing the social conditions of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians, the
report says, “There can be no doubt whatsoever that Dalit Muslims and Dalit
Christians are socially known and treated as distinct groups within their own
religious communities. Nor is there any room for disputing the fact that they
are invariably regarded as ‘socially inferior’ communities by their coreligionists.
In short, in most social contexts, Dalit Muslims and Dalit
Christians are Dalits first and Muslims and Christians only second.”
Some may argue the NCM conclusions, but there is no denying the fact that
Dalits in Muslim and Christian communities are not taken socially at par with
other castes in them.
The report further says, “While the overall status imposed on Dalit Muslims
and Dalit Christians is always that of an inferior group, the manner in which
social distance or superiority is asserted by non-Dalits (and specially the
‘upper’ castes) varies both across Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians and also
across regions and contexts. Such variation is present in all Dalit
communities of all religions.” The report, however, admits that practices of
discrimination and exclusion against Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians cannot
be described as intensified.
The report also talks about social, cultural and religious segregation faced by
Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians. “Social segregation extends to the sphere
of worship and religious rituals, with separate churches and priests being
almost the norm among Dalit Christians and not uncommon among Dalit
Muslims,” the report concludes. The report has found that occupational
segregation, economic exploitation and untouchability, though not intense,
are also prevalent in the communities.
Equipped with the much-sought after study, the NCM would like to present
the case of reservation for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians before the
government. But there are some legal hurdles in the way. Not only NCM but
social and political pressure groups from the concerned communities will
have to work extra time to remove these hurdles first.
Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians cannot be included among Scheduled
Castes, and thus they cannot be granted reservation, thanks to the
Presidential Order of 1950. That order denies inclusion of Dalits of any
community other than Hindu in the Scheduled Castes category. The third
paragraph of the order says, “notwithstanding anything contained in para 2,
no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be deemed
to be a member of the Scheduled Castes.”
For announcing the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950, paragraph 3
as ultra virus and ultra motive against the secularism of our esteemed Indian
constitution, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (Represented by former Law
Minister of India and eminent Advocate Mr. Shanthi Bhushan and Advocate
Mr. Prashant Bhushan) and Franklin Caesar Thomas had collectively filed the
civil writ petition in the supreme court of India on 22.03.2004. This petition
was filed by CPIL for getting the Scheduled Castes status to convert
Christian, Muslim members of the enumerated castes people of India.
Concerned with the above said civil write petition: 180, year 2004, Union of
India had referred this matter to National Commission for Religious and
Linguistic Minorities. NCRLM had positively recommended to Union of India
for granting Scheduled Castes status to the above said people by deleting the
paragraph 3 (as per the media report). After agreeing in the Supreme Court,
based up on the NCRLM Report, Ministry of Social Justice had asked the
National Commission for Scheduled Castes to give comment regarding the
extension of Scheduled Castes privileges to these people by giving one set of
the NCRLM report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
By accepting the Social, educational, economical and cultural backwardness
of the Christians and Muslims of the Scheduled Castes origin people,
Scheduled Castes Commission had asked the Union of India for granting
them the Scheduled Castes status. As per the constitutional power of the
Indian Constitution Article 338, sub division 9, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes had accepted and recommended to grant Scheduled Castes
status to these people.
As per the above said recommendation, the above said Dalit Muslim and Dalit
Chirtian people are facing and affected by the traditional practice of
untouchability in the major civil society and in their religious society.
As per the revised modalities of the Union of India for getting Scheduled
Castes status to a particular community, state Governments should
recommend to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Then Census
Commissioner and the Registrar General of India should give
recommendations for these communities to be treated as Scheduled Castes.
Then finally, National Scheduled Castes Commission for Scheduled Castes
should give positive recommendation regarding the proposal. Then the Group
of Ministers or the Cabinet should pass resolution to bring bill in Parliament.
In our issue, up to this time twelve state Governments and Union Territories
had recommended to Union of India for granting the SC status to these
people : in the year 2000, Bihar State Assembly had passed resolution for
granting SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims; in the year 2006
Uttar Pradesh State Assembly had passed resolution in the state assembly
for granting the SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, in the year
2009, Andra Pradesh state Government had passed resolution in its assembly
for granting the SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims . Without
referring the matter to the Registrar General of India, directly Union of India
had asked the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to give comments,
as per the Government's desire, NCSC had asked the Union of India to grant
SC status to these people. Scheduled Castes Commission's entire
recommendation was submitted in the Apex Court of India by the Additional
Solicitor of India concerned with the above said Civil Writ petition No: 180,
year 2004. On 23.01.2008, the Additional Solicitor General of India had
asked the Apex Court to grant eight weeks time to take a decision in the
Cabinet, Group of Ministers meeting for bringing reply to the Apex Court of
India. But still Union of India did not file any reply in the Supreme Court of
India as per their Commitment.
With out proper evidences, materials, Union of India had granted Scheduled
Castes status to Dalit Sikhs and Dalit Buddhist. If question is raised for
granting the Scheduled Castes status to Dalit Buddhist and Dalit Sikhs, it is
told that Sikhism and the Buddhism are the off shoot of Hinduism. If it was
so, in the year 1950 itself these people would have been treated as
Scheduled Castes, why did the Union of India separately added Sikhism in
the year 1956 and the Buddhism in the year 1990, particularly in the
Presidential Order 1950, paragraph 3.
As per the National Commission of Minorities Act 1993, Buddhism and
Sikhism are the separate religions from Hinduism. When the Sikhism and
Buddhism do not recognize the untouchability and casteism, they had been
given the Scheduled Castes status.
For proving the social, educational, economical and cultural backwardness of
Dalit Christians with Dalit Hindus, Union of India is having the Mandal
Commission's Recommendation, NCRLM Recommendation, National
Commission for Minorities Recommendation, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes recommendation, Detailed study done by Delhi University's
Professor Dr. Satish Despande (Financed by Union of India's National
Commission for Minorities), Sachar Committee (High Power Committee of the
Prime Minister of India) Recommendations regarding the extension of
Scheduled Castes privileges to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, Cabinet
Note of the Year 1996 for granting the Scheduled Castes status to Christians
of Scheduled Castes Origin and various state Governments' state commission
recommendations. The above said Commission Reports prove the traditional
practice of untouchability which is faced by Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
in the civil society and in their religious society par with Hindu Scheduled
Castes. Untouchability is a professional oriented discrimination in the society.
We do not want reservation to the elite people among Christians and
Muslims. But we want the Scheduled Castes reservation to the people whose
castes names are there in the Schedule of the Union of India who are
socially, educationally, economically and culturally backward par with Dalit
Hindus. The only stumbling block, paragraph three of the Constitution
Scheduled Castes Order 1950 should be deleted or amended to take the
religious ban (by bringing bill in Parliament) Or it should be striked by the
Apex Court of India as unconstitutional one.
United Nations Human Rights Council’s Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination had strongly recommended to Union of India in the year
2007, March for granting the Scheduled Castes status to these people. United
Nations Socio Economic Council and the Special Rapporteur on Religious
Tolerance of U N Human Rights Council had stressed the Union of India for
granting the Scheduled Castes status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
based up on violation of Human Rights basis.
Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims are not living in their worshipping places,
but they dwell in the society where casteism prevails. Upper strata of the
Christian, Muslim and Hindu high castes people are treating these people as
untouchables, so Scheduled Castes reservation should be extended to these
people forthwith.
We are pleased to request Union of India to file reply in the Apex Court of
India as soon as possible based up on the above said Union of India's own
documents.
Shamohamed inamdar
TREASURER
ALL INDIA MUSLIM BACKWARD COMMUNITY WELFARE TRUST(AIMBC) MUMBAI MAHARASHTRA shan790@gmail.com
RESERVATION FOR DALIT MUSLIMS
The Struggle of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians for
scheduled caste status
There is no reason to not include Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in the
category of Scheduled Castes because these Dalits share the same socioeconomic
status, and stigma also, as their counterparts in the Hindu
community, concludes the report prepared by National Commission of
Minorities (NCM).
The report titled “Dalits in the Muslim and Christian Communities: A Status
Report on Current Social Scientific Knowledge” reveals that economically and
educationally, the condition of Dalit Muslims is generally poorer than other
Dalits, and Dalit Christians too lag behind upper caste Christians on that
front. The NCM thinks that the report is an important development in that the
courts have been repeatedly asking for objective data for providing
constitutional facilities to Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians also. And it
rightly thinks so.
Discussing the social conditions of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians, the
report says, “There can be no doubt whatsoever that Dalit Muslims and Dalit
Christians are socially known and treated as distinct groups within their own
religious communities. Nor is there any room for disputing the fact that they
are invariably regarded as ‘socially inferior’ communities by their coreligionists.
In short, in most social contexts, Dalit Muslims and Dalit
Christians are Dalits first and Muslims and Christians only second.”
Some may argue the NCM conclusions, but there is no denying the fact that
Dalits in Muslim and Christian communities are not taken socially at par with
other castes in them.
The report further says, “While the overall status imposed on Dalit Muslims
and Dalit Christians is always that of an inferior group, the manner in which
social distance or superiority is asserted by non-Dalits (and specially the
‘upper’ castes) varies both across Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians and also
across regions and contexts. Such variation is present in all Dalit
communities of all religions.” The report, however, admits that practices of
discrimination and exclusion against Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians cannot
be described as intensified.
The report also talks about social, cultural and religious segregation faced by
Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians. “Social segregation extends to the sphere
of worship and religious rituals, with separate churches and priests being
almost the norm among Dalit Christians and not uncommon among Dalit
Muslims,” the report concludes. The report has found that occupational
segregation, economic exploitation and untouchability, though not intense,
are also prevalent in the communities.
Equipped with the much-sought after study, the NCM would like to present
the case of reservation for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians before the
government. But there are some legal hurdles in the way. Not only NCM but
social and political pressure groups from the concerned communities will
have to work extra time to remove these hurdles first.
Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians cannot be included among Scheduled
Castes, and thus they cannot be granted reservation, thanks to the
Presidential Order of 1950. That order denies inclusion of Dalits of any
community other than Hindu in the Scheduled Castes category. The third
paragraph of the order says, “notwithstanding anything contained in para 2,
no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be deemed
to be a member of the Scheduled Castes.”
For announcing the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950, paragraph 3
as ultra virus and ultra motive against the secularism of our esteemed Indian
constitution, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (Represented by former Law
Minister of India and eminent Advocate Mr. Shanthi Bhushan and Advocate
Mr. Prashant Bhushan) and Franklin Caesar Thomas had collectively filed the
civil writ petition in the supreme court of India on 22.03.2004. This petition
was filed by CPIL for getting the Scheduled Castes status to convert
Christian, Muslim members of the enumerated castes people of India.
Concerned with the above said civil write petition: 180, year 2004, Union of
India had referred this matter to National Commission for Religious and
Linguistic Minorities. NCRLM had positively recommended to Union of India
for granting Scheduled Castes status to the above said people by deleting the
paragraph 3 (as per the media report). After agreeing in the Supreme Court,
based up on the NCRLM Report, Ministry of Social Justice had asked the
National Commission for Scheduled Castes to give comment regarding the
extension of Scheduled Castes privileges to these people by giving one set of
the NCRLM report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
By accepting the Social, educational, economical and cultural backwardness
of the Christians and Muslims of the Scheduled Castes origin people,
Scheduled Castes Commission had asked the Union of India for granting
them the Scheduled Castes status. As per the constitutional power of the
Indian Constitution Article 338, sub division 9, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes had accepted and recommended to grant Scheduled Castes
status to these people.
As per the above said recommendation, the above said Dalit Muslim and Dalit
Chirtian people are facing and affected by the traditional practice of
untouchability in the major civil society and in their religious society.
As per the revised modalities of the Union of India for getting Scheduled
Castes status to a particular community, state Governments should
recommend to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Then Census
Commissioner and the Registrar General of India should give
recommendations for these communities to be treated as Scheduled Castes.
Then finally, National Scheduled Castes Commission for Scheduled Castes
should give positive recommendation regarding the proposal. Then the Group
of Ministers or the Cabinet should pass resolution to bring bill in Parliament.
In our issue, up to this time twelve state Governments and Union Territories
had recommended to Union of India for granting the SC status to these
people : in the year 2000, Bihar State Assembly had passed resolution for
granting SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims; in the year 2006
Uttar Pradesh State Assembly had passed resolution in the state assembly
for granting the SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, in the year
2009, Andra Pradesh state Government had passed resolution in its assembly
for granting the SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims . Without
referring the matter to the Registrar General of India, directly Union of India
had asked the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to give comments,
as per the Government's desire, NCSC had asked the Union of India to grant
SC status to these people. Scheduled Castes Commission's entire
recommendation was submitted in the Apex Court of India by the Additional
Solicitor of India concerned with the above said Civil Writ petition No: 180,
year 2004. On 23.01.2008, the Additional Solicitor General of India had
asked the Apex Court to grant eight weeks time to take a decision in the
Cabinet, Group of Ministers meeting for bringing reply to the Apex Court of
India. But still Union of India did not file any reply in the Supreme Court of
India as per their Commitment.
With out proper evidences, materials, Union of India had granted Scheduled
Castes status to Dalit Sikhs and Dalit Buddhist. If question is raised for
granting the Scheduled Castes status to Dalit Buddhist and Dalit Sikhs, it is
told that Sikhism and the Buddhism are the off shoot of Hinduism. If it was
so, in the year 1950 itself these people would have been treated as
Scheduled Castes, why did the Union of India separately added Sikhism in
the year 1956 and the Buddhism in the year 1990, particularly in the
Presidential Order 1950, paragraph 3.
As per the National Commission of Minorities Act 1993, Buddhism and
Sikhism are the separate religions from Hinduism. When the Sikhism and
Buddhism do not recognize the untouchability and casteism, they had been
given the Scheduled Castes status.
For proving the social, educational, economical and cultural backwardness of
Dalit Christians with Dalit Hindus, Union of India is having the Mandal
Commission's Recommendation, NCRLM Recommendation, National
Commission for Minorities Recommendation, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes recommendation, Detailed study done by Delhi University's
Professor Dr. Satish Despande (Financed by Union of India's National
Commission for Minorities), Sachar Committee (High Power Committee of the
Prime Minister of India) Recommendations regarding the extension of
Scheduled Castes privileges to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, Cabinet
Note of the Year 1996 for granting the Scheduled Castes status to Christians
of Scheduled Castes Origin and various state Governments' state commission
recommendations. The above said Commission Reports prove the traditional
practice of untouchability which is faced by Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
in the civil society and in their religious society par with Hindu Scheduled
Castes. Untouchability is a professional oriented discrimination in the society.
We do not want reservation to the elite people among Christians and
Muslims. But we want the Scheduled Castes reservation to the people whose
castes names are there in the Schedule of the Union of India who are
socially, educationally, economically and culturally backward par with Dalit
Hindus. The only stumbling block, paragraph three of the Constitution
Scheduled Castes Order 1950 should be deleted or amended to take the
religious ban (by bringing bill in Parliament) Or it should be striked by the
Apex Court of India as unconstitutional one.
United Nations Human Rights Council’s Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination had strongly recommended to Union of India in the year
2007, March for granting the Scheduled Castes status to these people. United
Nations Socio Economic Council and the Special Rapporteur on Religious
Tolerance of U N Human Rights Council had stressed the Union of India for
granting the Scheduled Castes status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
based up on violation of Human Rights basis.
Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims are not living in their worshipping places,
but they dwell in the society where casteism prevails. Upper strata of the
Christian, Muslim and Hindu high castes people are treating these people as
untouchables, so Scheduled Castes reservation should be extended to these
people forthwith.
We are pleased to request Union of India to file reply in the Apex Court of
India as soon as possible based up on the above said Union of India's own
documents.
Shamohamed inamdar
TREASURER
ALL INDIA MUSLIM BACKWARD COMMUNITY WELFARE TRUST(AIMBC) MUMBAI MAHARASHTRA shan790@gmail.com
reservation for dalit converts
The Struggle of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians for
scheduled caste status
There is no reason to not include Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in the
category of Scheduled Castes because these Dalits share the same socioeconomic
status, and stigma also, as their counterparts in the Hindu
community, concludes the report prepared by National Commission of
Minorities (NCM).
The report titled “Dalits in the Muslim and Christian Communities: A Status
Report on Current Social Scientific Knowledge” reveals that economically and
educationally, the condition of Dalit Muslims is generally poorer than other
Dalits, and Dalit Christians too lag behind upper caste Christians on that
front. The NCM thinks that the report is an important development in that the
courts have been repeatedly asking for objective data for providing
constitutional facilities to Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians also. And it
rightly thinks so.
Discussing the social conditions of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians, the
report says, “There can be no doubt whatsoever that Dalit Muslims and Dalit
Christians are socially known and treated as distinct groups within their own
religious communities. Nor is there any room for disputing the fact that they
are invariably regarded as ‘socially inferior’ communities by their coreligionists.
In short, in most social contexts, Dalit Muslims and Dalit
Christians are Dalits first and Muslims and Christians only second.”
Some may argue the NCM conclusions, but there is no denying the fact that
Dalits in Muslim and Christian communities are not taken socially at par with
other castes in them.
The report further says, “While the overall status imposed on Dalit Muslims
and Dalit Christians is always that of an inferior group, the manner in which
social distance or superiority is asserted by non-Dalits (and specially the
‘upper’ castes) varies both across Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians and also
across regions and contexts. Such variation is present in all Dalit
communities of all religions.” The report, however, admits that practices of
discrimination and exclusion against Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians cannot
be described as intensified.
The report also talks about social, cultural and religious segregation faced by
Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians. “Social segregation extends to the sphere
of worship and religious rituals, with separate churches and priests being
almost the norm among Dalit Christians and not uncommon among Dalit
Muslims,” the report concludes. The report has found that occupational
segregation, economic exploitation and untouchability, though not intense,
are also prevalent in the communities.
Equipped with the much-sought after study, the NCM would like to present
the case of reservation for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians before the
government. But there are some legal hurdles in the way. Not only NCM but
social and political pressure groups from the concerned communities will
have to work extra time to remove these hurdles first.
Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians cannot be included among Scheduled
Castes, and thus they cannot be granted reservation, thanks to the
Presidential Order of 1950. That order denies inclusion of Dalits of any
community other than Hindu in the Scheduled Castes category. The third
paragraph of the order says, “notwithstanding anything contained in para 2,
no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be deemed
to be a member of the Scheduled Castes.”
For announcing the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950, paragraph 3
as ultra virus and ultra motive against the secularism of our esteemed Indian
constitution, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (Represented by former Law
Minister of India and eminent Advocate Mr. Shanthi Bhushan and Advocate
Mr. Prashant Bhushan) and Franklin Caesar Thomas had collectively filed the
civil writ petition in the supreme court of India on 22.03.2004. This petition
was filed by CPIL for getting the Scheduled Castes status to convert
Christian, Muslim members of the enumerated castes people of India.
Concerned with the above said civil write petition: 180, year 2004, Union of
India had referred this matter to National Commission for Religious and
Linguistic Minorities. NCRLM had positively recommended to Union of India
for granting Scheduled Castes status to the above said people by deleting the
paragraph 3 (as per the media report). After agreeing in the Supreme Court,
based up on the NCRLM Report, Ministry of Social Justice had asked the
National Commission for Scheduled Castes to give comment regarding the
extension of Scheduled Castes privileges to these people by giving one set of
the NCRLM report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
By accepting the Social, educational, economical and cultural backwardness
of the Christians and Muslims of the Scheduled Castes origin people,
Scheduled Castes Commission had asked the Union of India for granting
them the Scheduled Castes status. As per the constitutional power of the
Indian Constitution Article 338, sub division 9, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes had accepted and recommended to grant Scheduled Castes
status to these people.
As per the above said recommendation, the above said Dalit Muslim and Dalit
Chirtian people are facing and affected by the traditional practice of
untouchability in the major civil society and in their religious society.
As per the revised modalities of the Union of India for getting Scheduled
Castes status to a particular community, state Governments should
recommend to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Then Census
Commissioner and the Registrar General of India should give
recommendations for these communities to be treated as Scheduled Castes.
Then finally, National Scheduled Castes Commission for Scheduled Castes
should give positive recommendation regarding the proposal. Then the Group
of Ministers or the Cabinet should pass resolution to bring bill in Parliament.
In our issue, up to this time twelve state Governments and Union Territories
had recommended to Union of India for granting the SC status to these
people : in the year 2000, Bihar State Assembly had passed resolution for
granting SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims; in the year 2006
Uttar Pradesh State Assembly had passed resolution in the state assembly
for granting the SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, in the year
2009, Andra Pradesh state Government had passed resolution in its assembly
for granting the SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims . Without
referring the matter to the Registrar General of India, directly Union of India
had asked the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to give comments,
as per the Government's desire, NCSC had asked the Union of India to grant
SC status to these people. Scheduled Castes Commission's entire
recommendation was submitted in the Apex Court of India by the Additional
Solicitor of India concerned with the above said Civil Writ petition No: 180,
year 2004. On 23.01.2008, the Additional Solicitor General of India had
asked the Apex Court to grant eight weeks time to take a decision in the
Cabinet, Group of Ministers meeting for bringing reply to the Apex Court of
India. But still Union of India did not file any reply in the Supreme Court of
India as per their Commitment.
With out proper evidences, materials, Union of India had granted Scheduled
Castes status to Dalit Sikhs and Dalit Buddhist. If question is raised for
granting the Scheduled Castes status to Dalit Buddhist and Dalit Sikhs, it is
told that Sikhism and the Buddhism are the off shoot of Hinduism. If it was
so, in the year 1950 itself these people would have been treated as
Scheduled Castes, why did the Union of India separately added Sikhism in
the year 1956 and the Buddhism in the year 1990, particularly in the
Presidential Order 1950, paragraph 3.
As per the National Commission of Minorities Act 1993, Buddhism and
Sikhism are the separate religions from Hinduism. When the Sikhism and
Buddhism do not recognize the untouchability and casteism, they had been
given the Scheduled Castes status.
For proving the social, educational, economical and cultural backwardness of
Dalit Christians with Dalit Hindus, Union of India is having the Mandal
Commission's Recommendation, NCRLM Recommendation, National
Commission for Minorities Recommendation, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes recommendation, Detailed study done by Delhi University's
Professor Dr. Satish Despande (Financed by Union of India's National
Commission for Minorities), Sachar Committee (High Power Committee of the
Prime Minister of India) Recommendations regarding the extension of
Scheduled Castes privileges to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, Cabinet
Note of the Year 1996 for granting the Scheduled Castes status to Christians
of Scheduled Castes Origin and various state Governments' state commission
recommendations. The above said Commission Reports prove the traditional
practice of untouchability which is faced by Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
in the civil society and in their religious society par with Hindu Scheduled
Castes. Untouchability is a professional oriented discrimination in the society.
We do not want reservation to the elite people among Christians and
Muslims. But we want the Scheduled Castes reservation to the people whose
castes names are there in the Schedule of the Union of India who are
socially, educationally, economically and culturally backward par with Dalit
Hindus. The only stumbling block, paragraph three of the Constitution
Scheduled Castes Order 1950 should be deleted or amended to take the
religious ban (by bringing bill in Parliament) Or it should be striked by the
Apex Court of India as unconstitutional one.
United Nations Human Rights Council’s Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination had strongly recommended to Union of India in the year
2007, March for granting the Scheduled Castes status to these people. United
Nations Socio Economic Council and the Special Rapporteur on Religious
Tolerance of U N Human Rights Council had stressed the Union of India for
granting the Scheduled Castes status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
based up on violation of Human Rights basis.
Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims are not living in their worshipping places,
but they dwell in the society where casteism prevails. Upper strata of the
Christian, Muslim and Hindu high castes people are treating these people as
untouchables, so Scheduled Castes reservation should be extended to these
people forthwith.
We are pleased to request Union of India to file reply in the Apex Court of
India as soon as possible based up on the above said Union of India's own
documents.
Shanmohamed inamdar
TREASURER
ALL INDIA MUSLIM BACKWARD COMMUNITY WELFARE TRUST(AIMBC) MUMBAI MAHARASHTRA shan790@gmail.com
SC STATUS FOR DALIT CONVERTS
The delay game by India’s government on Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim reservations is fueling increased frustration. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has failed to make statement on the demand for Scheduled Caste (SC) status by Dalits from religious minorities while the Supreme Court continues to delay a decision on four related cases.
After civil rights were given to India’s Dalits in the country’s constitution, those chose to adopt Christianity or Islam had their rights taken away by the Presidential Order of 1950. While Sikhs and Buddhist Dalits eventually had their rights restored, the request of Christian and Muslim Dalits has been denied for the last 58 years.
A public interest litigation case challenging paragraph 3 of Article 341 of the Presidential Order was filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation on behalf of T. Franklin Caesar in 2004. Two experienced lawyers, Sr. Advocate Shanti Bhushan and Sr. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, have appeared in the court at least eleven times to ask for justice under Article 32 of the Constitution of India.
Additional Solicitor General Mr. Gopal Subramanium sought eight weeks times to study the report by a government commission at the last hearing on 23 January 2008. Beginning on March 27, the case has been listed for a hearing several times but it was never called up since the court has consistently put the case as number 20 or higher. The court typically can only hear a few cases each day.
Dr. Sam Paul, National Secretary of Public Affairs, All India Christian Council (aicc) said, “The delay game of the Supreme Court has frustrated the Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim communities. Numerous commissions and reports have shown that Dalits, regardless of their religious background, suffer discrimination both socially and economically. The delay in changing this unjust law is inexcusable.” The most recent finding was a report sponsored by the National Commission for Minorities and written by some university researchers which found the economic and social status of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims is the same as other Dalits.
Mr. T. Franklin Caesar, whose case was first heard on April 26, 2004, said, “The UPA government has spent much time on policies to give 27% reservations for Other Backward Castes (OBC) in higher educational institutions, but they have failed to act on the Dalit Christians demand.”
The UPA government received opinions from the Justice Misra National Commission on Linguistic & Religious Minorities (May 2007) and the National Commission on Scheduled Castes (late 2007). Both recommended delinking religion from benefits for Dalits. Yet on 3 March 2008, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ms. Meira Kumar, told Parliament that the matter has been referred to the National Commission for Backward Classes.
Dr. Sam Paul said, “Why does the court, obviously under instructions from the UPA government, have to seek opinions from so many commissions while Dalit Sikh and Dalit Buddhist demands for government benefits were given without any similar conditions in 1956 and 1990, respectively?”
The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.
reservations for dalit muslims like others in SC Hindu
Doondh ke oos paar ::In the name of ALMIGHTY ISHWAR ALLAH::Hindu & Muslim must rise as a UNIT “against the EVIL”
The reservations were carried in Indian constitution for the socially and educationally backward castes/ groups for their upliftment . Since only the Hindu society ( though had remained under the rule of Non Hindu kings / governments for centuries before 1947 ) had been accused of inheriting discriminatory caste system / untouchability so to support the discriminated ( educationally and socially backward groups ) sections were named only out of the Hindu. This was surely not right claim since the discrimination that was found amongst the Hindu was not due to the Religion but was due the fact that the stronger feels superior to the weaker. This could happen in any society. The weaker sections amongst the muslims were the worst victim of the crooked designs of their own community leaders and some Hindu leaders who had “no religion”. In vote bank politics they have worked for decades to keep the muslim scared of Hindu in the name of Hindu Majority. True the backwardness in the muslims existed and has stayed in Independent India over the years due to illiteracy and false fear psychosis cultivated . The muslims had been first miscarried by their leaders by concealing the natural truth that the educationally / socially backward classes (castes) amongst them too. Majority of the Indian muslims had their ancestral roots in Indian traditional soils. Otherwise some muslims would have also been included in the schedule of the castes for whom the reservations were kept constitutionally and the percentage kept for such caste groups would have been more than 15%. Politicians are now playing the most dirty card ( that even British could not play as regards Indian Dominion) to divide Indians in the name of Muslims and Hindu on paper. Now they have raised the demand for reservations on the basis of religion where as it is unconstitutional and in a way these leaders are putting a blot on the intentions of all the HINDU of India for not being true to the Muslims ( also Christians) who are lesser in number. The social Muslim leaders should name educationally and socially backward castes ( as some muslims have now started calling Dalit Muslims) amongst Indian Muslims .These castes be included by a Constitutional amendment in the Schedule under which the reservations are provided to SC. The percentage reserved for SC after including these castes be increased from 15 % to the level worked after ascertaining the population of SC / Dalit Muslims . This will snatch any opportunity atleast on this account from the politicians to divide the Hindu Muslim. Time has come All Hindus and Muslamans of India must rise as a UNIT in the name of ALMIGHTY ISHWAR ALLAH against Political Gamesmanship of Religions & Castes. . Dayaagar45@yahoo.com. Socialactivist & Sr. Coloumnist
I think reservation for
I think reservation for Muslims does not make any sense. In Hyderabad, there is a Madrassa from LB nagar to Charminar on every street. God knows what kind of crap is taught there. It is obvious that after graduating from the Madrassahs, the Muslims do not have the necessary qualifications to handle todays requirements. Secondly, there has no injustice been done to Muslims of India as far as jobs go. Join a govt. school instead of Madrassah and work your way up like the rest of us are doing. It will be sweeter.
SOLID ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
A nation is made in its Elementary Schools (K-12 High Schools). Forget everythng., build/run quality High Schools... this is grass roots work. Without quality high school graduates, no point having universities. One should have QUALITY high schools. Sorry to say, but thru-out India., muslims do not have 1 (one) quality high school. This deficit must be addressed to immediately. Where they are government schools., strengthen it. where there arent., build and run new ones. This is the REAL TASK. To build the pyramid from ground up. I am aware, the condition of muslims is horrible., as is well documented in Sachar and Ranganatha Mishra Report... but the Government of India will not.. can not.. do anything for indian muslims (other than a mushaira/iftar party) for fear of hindu backlash. Build political pressure to convince Manmohan Singh to open Quality English Medium High Schools in Muslim Dominated areas., teach them CBSE sylabbi., with Hindi/Urdu as 2nd language... and change will come over time. not in 24 hours., but maybe in 24 years. Jai Ho.
Today's Muslims Leaders!! SHAME ON YOU
Hi Everyone,
Well this is indeed a great initiative taken by some of our Muslim leaders..... let's support them... But hold on before we support our so called Muslims Leaders let us first think...are they really doing this for the sake of Muslim Community? Do they really have such strong faith and "JAZBA" to support Muslims? Well... this is the main problem. Honestly speaking they are doing this because of there popularity. They are doing this because of there politacal positions. They wanted to stick on to there seats for years and years and are trying to win our communities favours. If they really have this "JAZBA" to support Muslims Community.. why can't they give free admissions in there FAMILY RUNNING BUSSINESS... the so called "OWASI COLLAGE"....admissions to thousands of muslim boys and girls who are desperately waiting to get admissions into there desired subjects...Engineering, Medical, MCA, MBA etc etc etc; but fail to get the admission becuase of the HUGE DEMANDS of the college managements. I have my personal experience... they demands huge donations and extra fees when our muslims brothers try to seek admissions in there college. Similarly, there are thousands of other ways they could help our community. Like they have a very stong position why can't the take the help of all the well known and rich muslims of Hyderabad who are running there so called Business to earn lakhs and lakhs (SHADAN College - OWN by Mulims, M.J College - OWN by Mulims, Dozens of Engineering and medical colleges on "GANDIPET Road" OWN by Muslims) Why can't they collectively come up with some programe/scheams which could help ouf muslims boys/girls to get free admissions into there desired fields? Like wise there are many MUSLIMS OWN Companies/offices why can't they go and talk to them to give job oppertuanites to young Muslims? But they do it only at the time of elections, just to earn muslims votes. Promises, Promises and promises but DO NOTHING... SHAME ON YOU LEADERS.
I agree that Asad and Akbar both are very strong political leaders and amazing speakers. There have been supporting and serving our community since the time of there four fathers but the questions is why do they always try to divert the minds of young muslim youth by conducting this kind of public lectures? If there true intention is to really support and help our muslims community to step forward in all the government jobs/streams. Why can't they help and support those poor muslims who cannot afford to take admissions in the so called high demanding colleges. They can help this group of community and give them free admissions into there colleges, provide them with all the full fledge facilities... like the other communities do.
What I strongly belive is....our so called muslims leaders have become very commercial. They are just concern about there political career and seats. They always think ... if they do some work ... what way it would benefit them.
I don't think it would be a loss for there business becuase they already have Billions of properties and many other sources to make money then why are they still collections huge fees/donations from our own muslim community? Ask them to stop all this crap and first look at there own selfs. See what they are really doing to help our community?
They do not really care about our muslims community and have strong faith to help us? If yes, then they should first start this kind of initiatives from there own FAMILY RUNNING COLLEAGES. After that, we would defenately help them mentally, physically and in all the best possible manner we could...we will come on roads, will take out "rallys/dharnaas" and would try our best to support them in getting this reservation sanctioned from the government.
So let us first go and ask them if they can really do what we are expecting from them at this point in time?
Think about it guys? I am serious.............
Jazak Allah Khair
MD Aijaz
YEs you are absolutly right
YEs you are absolutly right Mr. Aijaz. you said the things which are not done by asaduddin or akberuddein or any one in india. they always stress on the issues like babri and othe riots. but what about the education and economic development of muslims through out india...atleast think about hyderabad.
Today ASADUDDIN selling his deccan college medical and engineering seats for lakhs of rupees. these are affordable who are in gulf mostly and not given vote to asad, because they cant come for a single vote from gulf.
the people who gave votes are chosen hawks and rikshaws to run their families.
its a high time to wake up both MIM and MUSLIMS..
Today's Muslims Leaders
Brother Aijaz,
I agree with you on many points but you shoud appriciate Mr. Asad Owaisi he is the only muslim MP who raise his voice for Indian Muslims in Parliament.
We have 29 Muslims MP's and you can find their record in Parliament it was posted on TCN some days back.
Begging Ritual
Begging ritual started by Owaisi to win over poor masses and securing his next election. Dad will be happy with the way his kid is following his foot steps. If the begging is stopped, just see how Hyderabad will be burning due to the MIM goons.
Begging is ritual of Rishis, Sadhus, and Munis
Begging is a ritual of Rishis, Sadhus, and Munis.
Muslims DEMAND their RIGHTS.
Muslims FIGHT for JUSTICE for ALL.
Muslims don't COPY-CAT.
Thank you.
An Indian
Then why are Muslims begging and not fighting ?
Then why are Muslims begging and not fighting? If ISLAM is the best religion why has ALLAH made MUSLIMS seek reservation to be equal to rest? Evidently Allah has made MUSLIMS "inferior" and want them to remain poor so that MUSLIMS keep taking the name of ALLAH day in and day out.
And if ISLAM is all about "after life" why are MUSLIMS complaining? While MUSLIMS will enjoy with 33 virgins in PARADISE for following ALLAH, IDOl WORSHIPING Hindus will burn in "hell fire". It is acceptable to Hindus and should be acceptable to MUSLIMS too.
Hindus enjoy life in this world and burn in HELL FIRE in the after life while MUSLIM struggle in this world so that they enjoy the AFTER LIFE. It's fair deal.
Choice is yours IF YOU want to BURN in HELLFIRE!
Choice is yours "Anonymous", if you willingly choose to be burned in HELL-FIRE. But the CREATOR cannot be UNJUST to any of HIS CREATIONS - including yourself.
You are not arbitrator OR judge to send Muslims to HEAVEN, and others to HELL. Everyone will go to HEAVEN or HELL, solely based on ONES' deeds and / or misdeeds, committed in this world, and of-course out of MERCY from THE CREATOR.
An Indian
P.S.:
------
Each of His Creations need to BEG and PLEAD for His Mercy for entering PARADISE i.e. HEAVEN. And His Creations do not "fall behind" in BEGGING and PLEADING to Their Creator, but not in front of humans, statues, snake, elephant, tiger, etc.
Muslim Reservation in India
MEC India Congratulates the leaders of MIM and Asaduddin Owaisi, for organizing a great programme to raise the issues of Muslims.
This is good effort but, there are millions of miles to walk before we achieve.
The apathy of Muslims in India is huge, they need untireing support and effort to fight for there rights.
adil mh
President MEC India.
www.adilmohd.in
Reservation
I have still not understood how reservations can "empower" anyone...reservations are a kind of charity, which only kills self reaspect.
Instead of wasting precious time in asking for reservations, Muslims would be doing good to themselves by working hard to bring prosperity and happiness their way.
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