Friday, June 27, 2014

Christians demand reservations in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Christian leaders have demanded reservations for Christian Dalits, most of whom are poor, as Muslim leaders welcomed 5% reservations for their community in education and jobs.

Abraham Mathai of the Indian Christian Voice said, "The government should give reservations to Christians too as most of them in the state are poor and tribals. Marginalized Christians should not be ignored as they are a small minority."

Dolphy D'Souza of Save Our Land (SOUL) complained that Christians have been ignored by successive governments as they "are not a big votebank". She said that the 1950 Presidential order excluded Christian Dalits and Muslim Dalits from the purview of quotas, as given to scheduled castes.

Muslim leaders demanded immediate implementation of the state cabinet's decision and said the government must strongly defend it if challenged in the Supreme Court.

Congress MLA Amin Patel, who had demanded quotas for Muslims in the last monsoon session, said, "Reservations have been a long-standing demand of the community, as panels headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, Ranganath Mishra and Mahmoodur Rahman had also recommended quotas to empower Muslims. This will help mainstream the community, which has felt alienated due to backwardness."

Signs of Muslims getting reservations were evident when, replying to Patel's questions, minister Fauzia Khan had said, "You will soon get good news."

But M A Khalid of the All-India Milli Council said the government should have announced it earlier, as it seems like a sop before the assembly elections.

Many said the state government should not flinch from defending the decision in the apex court, if challenged. Minority affairs minister Arif Naseem Khan said, "This is not the first time Muslims have been given reservations in India. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh had provided reservations to economically poor Muslims, and Muslims in Maharashtra too needed it."
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