Congress pitch for quota within OBC for Muslims comes under fire; BJP, BSP slam 'poll gimmick'

NEW DELHI: Congress' fresh pitch for earmarking a quota of 4.5% for backward Muslims in the existing other backward caste (OBC) reservations came under fire on Friday, with BJP saying that the minorities won't fall for it.


"The impending defeat has affected mental balance of some Congress leaders. They should get treatment done after polls," said MA Naqvi of BJP. BSP's Mayawati too slammed Congress' pitch saying, "Congress has a tendency of promising something for Muslims and doing something else."

Maulana Mufti Mukarram also said that the move was not a new 'poll gimmick'. "This is not a new poll gimmick by Congress. They had promised quota within quota for Muslims in 2011 too," Mukarram said.

Midway through the Lok Sabha polls, Congress has launched an aggressive minority outreach, committing itself to "finding a way forward" on quotas for backward Muslims and Scheduled Caste status to all dalit minorities.

In its additional manifesto on "empowerment of minorities", Congress has said it will work towards earmarking a quota of 4.5% for backward Muslims in the existing other backward caste (OBC) reservations.


Lok Sabha polls 2014: Get details of candidates & parties from your constituency


Though Congress's main manifesto released on March 26 mentions quotas for backward Muslims, the new document specifically reiterates the 4.5% sub-quota announced by the Manmohan Singh government but which was stalled in courts.

The fresh minority pitch - available on the manifesto link on the Congress website - goes further, speaking of "extension of Scheduled Caste status to all dalit minorities", a demand opposed by many dalit groups currently accessing quotas.

Amending the SC criteria - currently available to Hindus and Buddhists - will allow 'dalit' Muslims and Christians to access quotas and has been strongly opposed by BJP on the ground that there is no caste-based discrimination in both religions.

On quotas for backward Muslims, the document says, "The Congress-led UPA government has taken steps to address conditions of backward minorities by providing for reservation in educational institutions and in government employment. We will pursue this closely in Supreme Court and ensure the policy is implemented through proper legislation."

In 2011, the Centre had announced a sub-quota of 4.5% for socially and educationally backward persons belonging to minority communities, but the proposal was stalled due to judicial scrutiny.