The problem of offering reservation to Muslims, categorised as Different Backward Courses (OBC), has as soon as once more surfaced, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the Congress of taking part in “divisive politics” through the use of the reservation quota.
Talking at an election assembly in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi dubbed the Congress because the “largest enemy of OBCs”. He stated up to now, Congress had supplied reservation primarily based on faith, which the Structure didn’t permit.
“As soon as once more, Congress has given reservation on the premise of faith by way of the again door by placing all Muslim castes together with the OBCs. By doing so, it has taken away an enormous chunk of reservation meant for the OBC group. Congress indulges on this harmful recreation which can destroy your future technology,” he stated.
This transfer has additionally been criticised by the Nationwide Fee for Backward Courses (NCBC), calling it one which undermines the “precept of social justice” and that communities which are “socially and educationally backward can’t be handled at par with a complete faith”.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has countered the prime minister’s remark, calling it a “blatant lie.” He careworn at no level has the Congress stated it was to remove the reservations of the backward courses and Dalits and provides it to the Muslims.
“This not solely demonstrates Modi’s ignorance but in addition his desperation within the face of potential defeat. Nobody within the nation has diminished the title of a first-rate minister to such a low degree. PM Modi, who’s able of accountability, ought to both show this accusation or apologise to the folks of this nation,” the Karnataka CM lashed out.
“Is there a authorities order on it? …It’s not attainable to alter reservation quotas simply. For this, the Structure must be amended with the consent of each Homes of Parliament,” he stated, including that, in accordance with the Chinnappa Reddy Fee carried out three many years in the past, Muslims have been included below class 2B of backward courses, bearing in mind their socio-economic circumstances.
What Does Muslims Beneath OBC Imply?
The transfer of bringing Muslims below reservation will allow the group to avail reservations in 4% of seats whereas in search of admissions to instructional establishments, appointments to posts and state authorities jobs.
In line with the 2011 inhabitants census, Muslims represent 12.92% in Karnataka.
The projected inhabitants of Muslims in India in 2023 would stand at 19.75 crore, in accordance with authorities information.
What did the Nationwide Fee for Backward Courses say?
The nationwide fee claimed that with this transfer by the Siddaramaiah-led authorities, the Congress was taking away the rights of Different Backward Courses.
In line with the NCBC, “This categorisation has led to the supply of reservation advantages for 17 socially and educationally backward castes below Class I and 19 castes below Class II-A, respectively,” because it has been carried out in Karnataka.
It additionally stated there have been underprivileged and traditionally marginalised sections throughout the Muslim group “because the caste system shouldn’t be permissible within the Muslim faith. Nonetheless, in observe, it can’t be irrefutably asserted that Islam is fully immune and insusceptible from casteism… Treating the complete faith as backward overlooks the range and complexities inside Muslim society,” the federal government panel stated.
What Occurred in 2023 Earlier than Karnataka Meeting Polls?
The Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP authorities in Karnataka in 2019 scrapped the 4% reservation for Muslims forward of the meeting polls in 2023. The Congress and JDS, which have been within the Opposition in Karnataka, criticised the choice and known as it “unconstitutional”. Karnataka Congress president and present Deputy CM DK Shivakumar had stated the Congress would scrap the Bommai order if it have been elected to energy.
The Congress challenged the choice within the Supreme Court docket.
The Supreme Court docket stayed the choice made by the Bommai authorities simply earlier than the 2023 meeting polls to cancel the 4% reservation for Muslims and distribute it amongst the Vokkaligas and Lingayats.
“The court docket had ordered that the revised reservation statues shouldn’t be carried out till additional orders. It’s regrettable that such an essential data has been omitted by the PM,” stated Siddaramaiah.
In line with the Bommai authorities, the non secular minority quota was abolished, and Muslims have been to be introduced below the ten% Economically Weaker Part (EWS) class. He stated the entire OBC reservation quota remained intact at 30%. Days later, Bommai’s authorities notified the ten% EWS class with Muslims added to it.
Concentrating on BJP’s Alliance Companion JDS
JDS chief HD Kumaraswamy, who’s now in alliance with the BJP for the continued Lok Sabha elections, had accused the BJP of scrapping the 4% quota to instigate battle between the Hindus and Muslims within the state.
Siddaramaiah focused the JDS as properly, questioning how former PM and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda would react. “Deve Gowda ji, Modi’s shut buddy and BJP’s new companion, is he nonetheless dedicated to his stand? Will the JDS give up to Narendra Modi and alter their earlier stand? He ought to make it clear to the folks of the state,” the CM demanded.
PM Modi had additionally stated the Indian Structure clearly talked about that nobody can be given reservation on the premise of faith. “Babasaheb Ambedkar himself was towards reservation on the premise of faith and that the Congress had a harmful decision of (offering reservation) on the premise of faith and it adopting numerous techniques to satisfy this decision,” the PM stated.
Historical past Behind Muslim Reservation and Chinnappa Reddy Fee
The Chinnappa Reddy Fee report, additionally known as the Karnataka Third Backward Courses Fee below the management of Justice Chinnappa Reddy, submitted their observations earlier than the Karnataka Meeting in June 1990.
On July 25, 1994, an order was issued by the Karnataka authorities to implement it.
“Social and academic backwardness is a consequence of financial impoverishment, instructional unawareness, and caste degradation,” stated the report, contemplating Muslims as a backward group in Karnataka.
This was first handed below then Congress chief minister Veerappa Moily who misplaced energy a number of months later. Subsequently, Deve Gowda turned the CM in December 1994 and carried out the report. In line with this, 4% reservation was supplied to Muslims within the state below a separate classification, 2B, within the OBC quota.
At first, Muslims have been talked about below Class 2B, which it had recognized as “Extra Backward” together with the Buddhists and SCs who transformed to Christianity. Nonetheless, the Karnataka authorities needed to change the allocation to 4% as the highest court docket directed the state to limit all reservations below the 50% sale together with SCs/STs and OBCs.
“The Chinnappa Reddy Fee report was carried out, it was challenged earlier than the Supreme Court docket within the Indra Sawhney case. The Indra Sawhney case laid down the parameters on how classification might be carried out… My fee’s report stood the scrutiny of the regulation and the check of time,” Moily had informed News18 in an earlier interview.
He added that if “it was unconstitutional, the courts ought to have declared it so. They (BJP) ought to have gone to the courts in Karnataka and challenged it within the Supreme Court docket as properly,” the senior Congress chief added.
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