By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Putting pressure, ahead of the coming Assembly elections, on the Left Front government in West Bengal to provide reservation to Muslims in jobs and education, the West Bengal chapter of Students Islamic Organisation of India today launched a state-wide 10-day campaign for Muslim reservation.
Muslims constitute about 25% of state population in West Bengal but their presence in government jobs, according to Sachar Committee report, is around 3%. Several Muslim organizations including Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind have been demanding reservation for Muslim for some time, and apparently under their pressure and sensing the Muslim vote is fast slipping from the Left parties in the state, the ruling Left Front government led by CPM last month announced 10% reservation for Muslim OBCs. The announcement is yet to take shape. However, Muslim organizations have demanded 20% quota for the economically backward Muslims cutting across castes.
Talking to TCN from Kolkata, Sarwar Hassan, West Bengal SIO president, said, “We demand implementation of Ranganath Mishra Commission report at national level. In West Bengal where Muslims are more than 25% we want 20% reservation to the economically backward sections of the Muslim society cutting across castes.”
The organization launched the campaign today in the entire state and it will continue till 30the April. During the campaign they are conducting signature campaigns and street corner meetings. On 29th of this month the student group will hold a big rally in the state capital. At the end of the campaign they will present a memorandum to the Chief Minister.