By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Just before the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the stage is all set for backward sections of Indian Muslims to get reservation. Within three months, the Congress led UPA government is likely to make an announcement in this regard. It will be within the 27 percent quota of OBC. A separate 8.4 percent of sub-quota will be earmarked for minorities with six percent share for Muslims.
Union law and minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid announced this during an award giving function of Unity College at Lucknow on Monday. “As I am saying this, the officials in Delhi are seriously toiling to get reservation model for Muslims. It will be announced within three months,” he said.
When asked whether reservation to backward Muslims was given with an eye on UP polls, he remarked, “What’s wrong if we offer something before elections.”
Khurshid stated that the reservation will be in central government jobs. Backward Muslims will be provided around six percent quota as per recommendation of Sachar Committee and Ranganath Mishra commission reports. Based on reports that minorities are 8.4 percent of the total OBC population, they will be provided this much quota within 27 percent OBC quota with six percent being reserved for Muslims.
The Union Law Minster also stated that the government may adopt a model similar to one already in place in Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka within next three months. As of now Tamil Nadu has 3.5 reservations for Muslims within 27 per cent quota for backward castes, while Andhra Pradesh has given 4 per cent reservation to socially and educationally
backward Muslims.
Importantly the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, on September 17, wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to provide reservation to minorities, especially Muslims, in accordance with their population.