Muslim religious leaders plan to discuss their removal from the reservation with Vokkaliga and Lingayat leaders in the state.
Fearing that they will be blamed for communal tensions before the assembly elections of 2023, the Muslim community of Karnataka will take the legal way to fight for their reservation rights.
Recently, the Karnataka government scrapped the four percent reservation from the Muslim community and divided the percentage between the two communities- Vokkaligas and Lingayats.
K. Rahman Khan, former Union Minister for Minority Affairs and former deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha said, “The only way is to go to court. We don’t believe in street protests.” Khan added that they have the power to carry out street protests, but in order to avoid further malignment of the Muslim community by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), they believe that taking the legal way to fight for their reservation rights is the better way.
Further, he added that the Muslim community would be sending memorandums to the authorities concerned. Khan said, “This is illegal and the government will not be able to take away our rights.”
After the recent decision of Karnataka’s cabinet to remove the reservation for Muslims, the reservation for Vokkaligas and Lingayats will rise to six percent and seven percent respectively. Now, the Muslim community will have to get their reservation under the EWS category, reported LiveMint.
“Our religious leaders will get in touch with the respective leaders of the two communities to talk about the reservation percentage that they received which belonged to a backward class,” said Khan
Parveen Shaik, district president of the women’s league of the Indian Union Muslim League said “We are raising our voices. The removal of the reservation is not fair.” She added that it is their right to have the reservation which is set for them. “It is in the constitution, how can they remove it just a month before the elections,” said Parveen.
Just like other Muslim organisations, the party is also going to take legal measures. “We are not going to protest. Our lawyers are working. We do not want to break any rules,” said Parveen. She added that following the constitution is important for the party.
Aiyshwarya Mahadev, AICC and General Secretary for Media and Communications in Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said the change in reservation percentages is unconstitutional. She added that “The reservation for Muslim communities was not offered on the basis of religion but on social and economic backwardness.”
Fariduddin Sheriff, minority president and state secretary of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that the party is in favour of the recent move by the Karnataka government about scrapping the Muslim quota.
“AAP believes that reservation should be for economically and socially backward classes. It should not be passed from generation to generation,” said Sheriff. He explained that these reservations should only be applicable when the person actually belongs to a backward class. For example, if someone from such a background is able to do well for himself like become an IAS officer, then they should no longer qualify for reservation.
Aiyshwarya further said that this is done without any legal recommendation. “Plucking away from one community and redistributing it to other communities will lead to resentment amongst communities, which is what BJP wants.”
She further added that when Congress comes to power, they will cater to all the communities. Aiyshwarya said that “Not just Muslims but also aspirations of SC/ST as well as the Panchamasalis and Vokkaligas will be catered to.”
