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The job quota game : Andhra Govt. woos Muslims, BJP frowns |
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In a significant policy initiative, the Andhra Pradesh Government last week issued an order providing for five per cent reservation for Muslims in Government jobs and admissions in educational institutions. The order provides for inclusion of Muslims in backward classes. Currently, as per the Supreme Court ruling in the Mandal case, only certain sections of Muslims classified as “socially and economically backward classes” get the benefit of reservation.
The decision is in tune with the new Congress Government’s promise to extend reservation for the Muslim community in Government jobs and educational institutions. The order ‘which is open to legal challenge’ was issued after a comprehensive report prepared by the Commissionerate of Minorities Welfare which conducted a study on the living conditions, occupations and educational status of the Muslim community in the state. The Government had earlier indicated that it would formulate a legislation on reservation for Muslims. But it has been decided to issue a Government order in view of the approaching admissions in professional medical and engineering colleges, state Minorities Welfare Minister Fareeduddin said.
Meanwhile, the move caused expected attack from the BJP and the Sangh parivar (RSS family). Former Lok Sabha Speaker and senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi criticised the Andhra Pradesh Government’s decision saying it will only create “hatred” between communities. Stoutly opposing reservation for Muslims in Government jobs, he told reporters that it will not be a wise move to offer more and more facilities to minorities ignoring the majority. Joshi said any such move to provide reservation for minorities if initiated by the Centre will be strongly opposed by the Shiv Sena.
The VHP demanded abolition of minority status for Muslims and Christians and an immediate rollback of the Andhra Government’s decision to provide five per cent reservation to Muslims. According to VHP working president Ashok Singhal, there was no justification for considering Muslims and Christians as minorities in the global context. Moreover, in a country where society is fragmented into communities and sects, Muslims, with 14 per cent population, “are the single-largest minority community”. “How are they a minority?” he asked. Singhal said the Congress was walking in the footsteps of the British to divide the country.
Observers felt the Andhra Pradesh Government’s announcement of a five percent job reservation for Muslims was treading down a dangerous legal and political path. The full integration of Muslims into India’s public life, and the expansion of opportunities for them ought to be the endeavour of public policy. But reservations of the kind just announced could not be an effective means of achieving the desired objective. On the other hand, it could be potentially counter productive.
There is no doubt that the alienation of Muslims from India’s public institutions and their economic marginalisation should be matters of grave concern. Muslim politics has not been well served by its leaders, who have been reluctant to democratise institutions relevant to Muslims. All of these forces have combined to ensure that Muslims, rather than being integrated as equal citizens, unencumbered by the weight of their identities, are constantly put in the position of being a supplicant minority, say observers.
The case for reservations for Muslims, according to analysts, is however, weak on many grounds. They are economically more marginalised and under-represented in public services. But the most effective solution to this is not reservations. It is their inclusion in all schemes that are aimed at expanding opportunities for citizens: education and so forth, observers note. Reservation is not an act of commitment by the state to the cause of Muslims, it is a cover up for its failures to address their needs.
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