Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday asked Union Minister for Minority Affairs K Rehman Khan to bring in a constitutional amendment Bill for providing reservation to Muslims.
“Providing reservation to Muslims without amendment to the Constitution is not possible. We are ready to support it whenever you bring such a Bill,” Akhilesh stated at a joint press conference with the Union minister at his official residence.
In its manifesto of Assembly elections, the SP had promised reservation to Muslims in proportion to their population. The issue cropped up when Khan was highlighting the achievements of his ministry. He mentioned that the Sachar Committee made 72 recommendations for the uplift of Muslims. “From these, the Union government did not accept three and could not implement three others. But we have implemented the remaining 66 recommendations,” he said.
At this, state Minister of Minority Welfare Azam Khan slammed the Congress for doing lip service towards Muslims for the past six decades. “Reservation to Muslims is the soul of the Sachar Committee recommendations. We understand that you do not have a majority, but at least bring the Bill,” he said.
Khan responded: “You tell me any recommendations of Sachar Committee which has been left out and it will be implemented within 24 hours.”
Khan added he was happy that the issue of Muslim reservation has been raised. “It is our right. But unfortunately Muslims are being referred to as a religious group instead of a social one. We need to rectify that,” he stated.
He claimed it was due to his efforts that Karanataka had a provision of 4 per cent reservation for Muslims for the past 20 years. “It was in the manifesto of the Congress in the 2009 elections, but it has been delayed due to legal issues. You favour it and we also favour it. We are waiting for the court’s judgment,” he added.
Courtesy: IE