By Tanvir Salim
Barring Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), all political parties are in unison over the issue of Muslim reservation. The recent one to join the bandwagon is the Vice President, Mr. Hamid Ansari. While there are few who are sincere in their demand, but most of them, with 2014 polls in mind, are simply playing to the gallery. Since, Muslim votes can be the game changer that is why everybody is flocking to them with promises. And what can be a better promise than reservation for all Muslims in government jobs and education.
It is not a bad idea, but it shows mental bankruptcy and sheer desperation when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister promises to help passing a bill over Muslim reservation, if the Congress party tables it in the Parliament. Neither Samajwadi Party, nor Congress has the numbers to get this bill passed. So whom they are trying to fool? As usual they are fooling the Muslims masses.
A Muslim reservation rally in Muzaffarnagar in March 2011. [TCN Photo]
It is true that the condition of Muslims in India is pathetic and they need help like any other marginalized section of the society, but the way this reservation issue is being presented raises serious questions. These leaders in quest to mobilize Muslims for their political gains have not done their homework and are ready to play with their emotions by promising them the stars and the moon.
Let’s examine the facts. We know that bulk of the Muslim community is included in the list of Other Backward Classes (OBC). The nine judge’s Mandal judgement (Indra Sawhaney v/s Govt. of India) very clearly expressed that besides Hindu OBCs, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs are getting the benefits of 27% OBC reservation. Justice Venkatchallia, Chairman of the Constitution review Commission has very clearly stated in paragraph 10-11-2 of the report:
“At present the political representatives of Minority communities in legislatures, especially Muslims, has fallen well below their proportion of population. The proportion of BCs among them is next to nil. This can lead to a sense of alienation. It is recommended for political parties to build up leadership potential in the minority communities including BCs, SCs and STs among them for participation in political life.”
It further stated more clearly:
“Backward classes belonging to religious minorities who have been identified and included in the list of backward classes and who in fact constitute the bulk of the religious minorities should be taken up with special care along with their Hindu counterparts in the development efforts for the backward classes.”
The above referred paragraphs from the Constitution review Commission confirm that OBC section of the Muslims “are included in the list of backward classes and who in fact constitute the bulk of the population in religious minorities.” These “bulk” differs from state to state, but generally they are between 75 to 85 percent of the minority population, and here minority generally means Muslims. Mandal Commission report also confirms this percentage of Muslim BCs which include Dalit Muslims also. Thus, there are no two opinions that bulk of the Muslim population consists of the Muslim backwards, who are identified and are included in the list of backward classes. The nine judges’ constitution bench judgment also confirms this.
In spite of the facts mentioned above, the Muslim leadership in every political party is harping that Muslims are not getting the reservation benefits, and hence they promise that when they come to power, they will provide reservation to Muslims in admission to educational institutions and jobs in civil services. They don’t go to the fact that Muslims who are socially and educationally backward are already included in the list of OBC in state and central list, and those Muslims who are included in the list of the backward classes constitute the bulk of the Muslim community, which roughly comes to 75 and 85 percent of the total Muslim population.
Yes, social stratification amongst Muslims is a known and accepted fact. It is confirmed by sociologists and anthropologists worldwide, and also by the Encyclopedia Americana and Britannica. Now the Ashraf Muslim leadership also confirms this social stratification in terms of Ashraf, Ajlaf, and Arzal groups of Muslims.
There are Muslim activists who are demanding that “all” Muslims to be included in the OBC category. They should be aware that Ashraf Muslim cannot be included in the OBC list. Para 552 of the Mandal judgment has formulated the criterion for inclusion in the OBC list which is as under.
“552- The backward class of citizens referred to in Article 16(4) is the socially backward class of citizens whose educational and economical backwardness is on account of their social backwardness. A caste itself may constitute a class. However, in order to constitute a backward class the caste concerned must be socially backward and it’s educational and economical backwardness must be on account of its social backwardness. The economic criteria by itself cannot identify a class as backward unless the economic backwardness of the class is on account of its social backwardness.”
Nine judges Constitution bench judgement of Indira Sawhney v/s Union of India (Mandal case)
Since the population ration of Ashraf is 15 to 25 percent of the total Muslim population, all the hue and cry for Muslim reservation is for this 15 and 25 percent of the total Muslim population. The bulk of the Muslim population that is 75 to 85 percent of the Ajlaf-Arzal backward Muslims is included in the list of backward classes in the state and central list and is getting the benefits of OBC reservation in jobs and admissions.
The political parties should be careful when they demand reservation for” all” Muslims. Since “all” Hindus can’t get reservation, all Muslims can’t either. They should stop making promises which they can’t fulfill.
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The author is a USA based Nuclear Engineer who is presently in India. Can be contacted by www.tanvirsalim.com