By Muslim Mirror Correspondent,
Mumbai, May 21: Without reservations in Education, Employment and Legislatures the progress of Muslim community in India is not possible, said Hazrat Maulana Moin Miyan, an eminent and popular religious scholar from Mumbai who is also Sajjada Nasheen at Aastanae Aaliya, Kichaucha while speaking to Press during a discussion on the problems of Muslims community.
The Sachar Committee has already exposed the governments that they failed to uplift the Muslim community socially, educationally, economically and politically. Muslims are at the lowest level and claims of their progress and development are totally false. This is due to the discrimination at every level by the successive governments, Moin Miyan, said
The affirmative constitutional policy of reservation has successfully transformed the lives of SCs & STs and they are getting 100 % weightage for their population in education, services and development schemes. Hence, it is strongly urged to adopt the time tested affirmative action of 15% reservation for minorities consisting of 10% for Muslims.
Moin Miyan said that “It is the legitimate right of Muslims to ask or demand their representation according to their population, but unfortunately it is denied by all the parties, because of our own weaknesses and lake of interest in the democratic process.” Moin Miyan advised Muslims to do more efforts in comparison to the majority community. They must develop political awareness so that they can get political advantage of the democracy. He asked the Muslim community to put maximum pressure on the state as well as central government for granting them reservation before the next Lok Sabha election scheduled to be held in 2014.
Indian polity and the Central government is practicing double standards in the reservation. Our view is that the Article 341 is a constitutionally discriminatory Article to the Muslim and Christian Dalits and the Presidential order of 1950 should be withdrawn to make justice. He said that, large portion of Muslim and Christian backwards falls under reservation umbrella by every definition and they have been placed outside reservation rights which is against the Constitutional spirit.
He said that injustice is being done with Muslim and Christian and that should be ended now. He said, “in the beginning only Hindu dalits were granted reservation under 341 and presently only Muslim and Christian dalits have been deprived off which must be ended now.
Moin Miyan explained in detail that “It is noteworthy that from 1935 to 1950 all Dalits irrespective of their religion were provided with reservations. However, on January 26, 1950 when constitution of India came into force an order was passed by then president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad limiting the reservation to only Hindu Dalits, clearly prohibiting the provision of article 341 which states that all scheduled castes should be provided with reservation. The Presidential Order 1950 denies inclusion of Dalits of any community other than Hindu in the Scheduled Castes category. This order runs contrary to the provisions of Articles 14 (equality before the law), 15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion) and 25 (freedom to profess and practice any religion) of the same Constitution.”
He also pointed out the Ranganath Mishra Commission Report which has also recommended SC status for Dalit Muslims. Keeping this recommendation in consideration Central Government should amend the self contradicting constitution and implement this recommendation without any further delay in interest of lakhs of discriminated and deprived people.
Talking about Affirmative Plans and Developmental Schemes, Moin Miyan Said that, Schemes made for Muslims must also have the similar plans which are made for SCs and STs. Muslims must also get same benefits as it is given to Dalits.
While talking about the Muslim Leaders and Muslim Organization and their efforts, he said that, It seems conventions, conferences, symposium, seminar, debate and discussions have become a trademark of Muslim organizations. We will have to come very strong and united on the demands of Muslim Reservations and other affirmative actions for the development of Muslims in India.