By TCN News,
New Delhi: The move of the UPA Government to give Muslims quota within the OBC quota has not pleased many in the minority community. After some community intellectuals and Muslim caste leaders opposed the move, now Welfare Party of India has also come out against it, saying Muslims want their due share ‘from original bag and not from other’s bowl.’
The party while appreciating the proposal to give reservation to Muslims criticised the Congress-led UPA government’s stand as spelt out by Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to include them in the 27% OBC quota.
Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, General Secretary of the party in a statement on Saturday said: Muslims’ demand is their due share from original bag and not from other’s bowl. He alleged that the Congress is trying to ignite social conflict and unrest among backward communities and drag the reservation issue by the quota within quota policy.
Even after the Sachar Commission and Ranganath Mishra Commission appointed by the central government acknowledging the social and educational backwardness of Muslims and underscoring need for corrective and affirmative actions, it is saddening that the government and the Congress is not serious, he said.
He further said that the OBC grouping has been widened with inclusion of many communities and sections that were not in the list earlier and there is a strong and genuine demand for enhancement of the existing 27% cap. Dr. Ilyas continued that in this situation, any attempt to take away even a small grain from the bowl of the OBCs will invite social conflict between Muslims and other OBC sections.
The party asked the government to take tangible step for reservation to Muslims for their social and educational emancipation and overcome constitutional hurdles, if any, with appropriate steps.