Committed to quota for Muslims: Minister

NEW DELHI: The Centre was committed to give a share of reservations to Backward Muslims, minister for minority affairs Salman Khurshid has said.

“We are committed to giving share to Backward among Muslims in the reservation list for Backward Castes. This was also recommended by Sachar Committee and we have promised it in our (Congress) manifesto as well to which we remain committed,” Mr Khurshid said here on Wednesday.

Even so, Mr Khurshid stressed that there was a need to go beyond reservations. The minister said other affirmative action efforts could also be considered for Backward Muslims in a manner akin to that done for Scheduled Castes.

The Equal Opportunity Commission, according to the minister, would be another positive step as it seeks to create equal opportunities and ensure empowerment for all disadvantaged sections.

The minister said that the government could move forward on its commitment on basis of “successful experiments in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka”, where Backward sections among Muslims have been given separate and special representation within the Backward list. “We can move forward on the basis of what we have done in these three states,” Mr Khurshid said.

The minister clarified that the Andhra Pradesh high court, which rejected the state government’s move to give reservation for Backward Muslims on two occasions, had not rejected the concept of a quota within existing 27% reservation for OBCs.

The court had rejected the state government’s application on the grounds of “non-scientific and inadequate survey”. Mr Khurshid said: “Fortunately, the Supreme Court has preserved the 4% reservation for Backward Muslims given in the state.”