Well-known balladeer and separate Telangana State crusader Gaddar here on Saturday demanded that the Union government cause a debate on the “Muslim Reservation issue” in Parliament before the Presidential election.
Speaking to mediapersons, Gaddar demanded that all the political parties in the country, especially YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, declare their stand clear on the Muslim Reservation issue. Stating that all political parties were snatching votes of Muslims, who constitute 18 per cent in the country’s population at every election, Gaddar said that earmarking 4.5 per cent reservation to the Muslim minority was undemocratic and totally unjust.
Instead of earmarking reservation to Muslims from the general quota in proportion to their population, Gaddar alleged that the Union government was deliberately trying to create rift between the Backward Classes and Muslim minorities by earmarking just 4.5% quota to Muslims from the BC quota. He said that the action of the government with regard to Muslim reservation was part of deep-rooted political conspiracy.
Gaddar called upon the Muslims to pass resolutions in all mosques and fight for reservation on the basis of Ranganath Mishra Commission Report and in proportion to their population in the country.
Minority Reservation United Front State convener Mohd Haneef Ahmed said that the Muslims, who constitute about 16% in the country’s population, were leading more miserable life than the Dalits. He said that several commissions constituted by the government to go into the living standards of Muslim minorities also recommended to the government to initiate adequate measures for the uplift of Muslims. Yet, successive governments remained indifferent on the Muslim welfare, but all the political parties were using them as their vote bank, he said, adding that all parties owe an explanation to the Muslim minorities on the issue. He appealed to intellectuals, educationists and legal luminaries to apply their mind on the issue and try to render justice to the unfortunate population. Stating that Muslim minorities were not against other religions and castes getting reservations, he appealed to the SC, ST and BCs to extend their wholehearted support to their justified struggle for reservation.
Telangana Praja Front State executive member Sanaullah, Intellectual Forum president Mohd Ghulam Ghouse and others also spoke.
NSS