Muslim organisations support Patel reservation demand

The Muslim organisations, including Telangana Muslim Joint Action Committee (TMJAC) and Tahreek Muslim Shabban (TMS), have announced their full support to the the stir by Patel community in Gujarat demanding OBC status and reservation.

In a media statement, TMJAC chairman Mohammed Mushtaq Mallik said that the demand for reservation by the Patel and Patidar castes in Gujarat was justified as they were among the most economically backward people in their State. Similarly, the Muslims of Gujarat too should be given reservation in jobs and education to ensure their socio-economic development. He said that the BJP Government of Gujarat has been suppressing these communities in the garb of hollow slogans like ‘Vibrant Gujarat’. Except for a few industrial houses, there was no real growth in Gujarat for the last several decades. The severe agitation launched by the Patel community clearly indicates that socially and economically poor people have remained backward.

Mushtaq Mallik said that the Central Government should take measures to rationalise reservation. The 50% cap on reservation is not relevant today as it has been depriving many deserving communities from the benefits of reservation. He also demanded that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao pressurise the Centre to amend the relevant laws so as to increase the Muslim quota in Telangana from present 4% to 12%, as promised by TRS during last elections. Further, Scheduled Tribes of Telangana too should get 12% quota in the State. This can be done only by removing 50% cap on reservation, he said. (INN)