By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Demanding the implementation of Ranganath Mishra Commission’s recommendations for reservation for minorities, Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ) held a dharna on February 13 in Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
Muhammad Siraj, Maharashtra president of MPJ, addressing the participants who had gathered from 25 districts in the state said, ‘The Ranganath Mishra Commission has put a stamp on the fact revealed by the Sachar Committee report that Muslim’s educational, social and economic condition is worse than even Dalits. It has also recommended the implementation of the Sachar report but I am afraid whether it would be done or not.’
He added that under different articles of Indian Constitution minorities are entitled to get reservation in job and education. We, therefore, demand that they should be given 15% reservation; 10% for Muslims, the second majority of the country, and 5% for other minorities.
‘The government does not look sincere regarding welfare of the minority community, otherwise it would have managed the implementation of various commissions and committees formed over the period. It uses the committees as a means to allure Muslims,’ said Rashid Azim, Mumbai head of MPJ.
At the end of the program, a four-point memorandum was passed with mass approval. The memorandum will be handed over to the Maharashtra Chief Minister.
The memorandum demands:
1. The implementation of the Ranganath Mishra Commission’s recommendations
2. To provide 15% reservation in education and employment to economically backward minorities
3. To include most backward communities of Muslims and Christians in Schedule Cast list instead of OBC
4. That reservations should be protected via the 9th Schedule of the Constitution
Rangnath Mishra Commission was constituted to look into the problems of all religious and linguistic minorities. It submitted the report to the Prime Minister’s Office on 15th May 2007.
Movement for Peace and Justice is working in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Established on March 28, 2005 MPJ works for peace in society, solving farmers’ problems and restricting their suicide and helping backward communities..
‘The scope of work of MJP extends to all the minorities; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists etc. It is not specified to only Muslims. We believe that unless the large section of the society i.e. minorities are advanced the progress is impossible. We believe in the development which benefits all persons and not the rich only,’ told Maharashtra general secretary of MPJ Anees Ahmad adding ‘we have formed special committee to pressure the government for implementing the Sachar Committee Report.’