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Post-Sachar Reservation Politics Problems of Identity, Security and Equity Are Uniform, and There Is No Marked Dif- Ference

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Post-Sachar Reservation Politics Problems of Identity, Security and Equity Are Uniform, and There Is No Marked Dif- Ference COMMENTARY a homogeneous community – the Muslim Post-Sachar Reservation Politics problems of identity, security and equity are uniform, and there is no marked dif- ference. The Sangh parivar too took ideo- Manzoor Ali logical positions vis-à-vis the fi ndings and suggestions of the two commissions. The The recent attempt to pass a 4.5% n 5 March 2013, Jamiat Ulama-i- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political sub-quota for Muslims under Hind held an Insaaf march to face of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, backward classes has drawn the Opress for reservations for the argued that the Sachar Committee fi nd- Muslim community. The social, educa- ings have been manipulated for electoral community into the reservation tional and economic backwardness pro- gain and it could sow the seeds of another framework. In this light, it is vide the context for such a demand. The Partition. The Communist Party of India important to recognise castes community has evolved its position (Marxist) – CPI(M) argued that vis-à-vis reservation in educational insti- within Muslims that are poor and the Sachar Report has blown the myth of tutions and government jobs and now mino rity appeasement by presenting scienti- socially downtrodden. A change believes that without progressive quotas fi cally collated evidence, which shows that in our understanding of the upliftment of Muslims would not be minority communities, especially Muslims, face deprivation and discrimination in myriad possible as they face discrimination at homogeneity of the Muslim forms (People’s Democracy 2007). community is the key to every level. The two commissions designed to map the socio-economic status of However, the Muslims’ educational understand the issues at hand. minorities and to recommend measures backwardness and low representation in to improve their conditions were the government jobs in West Bengal under Sachar Committee and the Ranganath the CPI(M) sullied the progressive image Mishra Commission. The fi rst diagnosed of the party. the problem and the second recom- Further, poor inclusiveness of Muslims mended measures. They can be credited in the developmental process in various with rejuvenating the debate surrounding states ruled by parties of different ideo- minorities and their relationship with the logical hues forced Muslims to believe state in the context of inclusive growth. that no political party was good enough to deal with their grievances. Consequently, Key Issues they argued for a separate party for Minority backwardness, especially am ong Muslims. Hence, the period after the Muslims, in terms of health, education release of the reports has witnessed the and employment, was widely discussed mushrooming of Muslim-centric political across the country. Political parties and parties. Table 1 (p 14) lists some of the civil society, along with Muslim organi- parties formed after the release of the sations, participated in the debate. The Sachar Committee report. debate forced politicians and political parties to take position vis-à-vis Muslim Politicking Manzoor Ali ([email protected]) is backwardness. The Congress Party en- Sensing deep frustration among Muslims, with the Centre for Budget and Governance dorsed its traditional view backed by the the Congress sought to use the opportu- Accountability, New Delhi. customary understanding of Muslims as nity to regain lost ground within the Economic & Political Weekly EPW september 28, 2013 vol xlviII no 39 13 COMMENTARY Table 1: Muslim Political Parties in India Formed after the Sachar Committee Report Ashraf castes. Similarly, various state Sr No Name of the Party Formation Year Remark leadership positions are Ashraf dominated. 1 Peace Party of India 2008 Split in 2011. Faction named as Rashtriya Peace Party The agenda set by them is considered as 2 Welfare Party of India April 2011 the agenda for the entire community. 3 Awami Vikas Party 1 May 2012 Focus on the unity of dalit and Muslims Moreover, the Congress believes in a 4 Popular Front of India November 2006 Formed after the merger of three political outfits, i e, Karnatak Forum for Dignity, National Development piecemeal process of democratisation. Front and Manitha Neethi Pasarai Whenever Muslims started moving away 5 Rashtriya Ulema Council 4 October 2008 Maulana Amir Rashdi Madni floated it to forward from Congress, it came up with some the interest of eastern Uttar Pradesh populist measure to show its concern 6 People’s Democratic – It was led by Maulana Siddiqullah Chaudhary Conference of India (West Bengal) for minorities. For instance, there was Indira Gandhi’s 15-point programme, community. It is in this context that in Admissions Committee has decided to the UPA government’s new 15-point pro- 2011, the United Progressive Alliance implement the sub-quota. Following the gramme, and the Sachar Committee re- (UPA) II cabinet approved in a slapdash reservation, around 430 minority candi- port. The policies generated from these manner the 4.5% sub-quota for minorities dates were expected to get admission in programmes, while noble in intention, within the existing reservation of 27% the 17 IITs across the country going by have not been implemented in a holistic for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) just last year’s fi gure of a total of about 9,500 way and have ended up pacifying the before fi ve state elections. seats. The result of the IIT exam reveals anger against the government without The Muslim reaction has been varied. that 392 Muslim candidates were select- any concrete improvements in most of Some believe it is a betrayal of the ed. Out of this total, only 172 were OBC the community. community, and to others the offer is Muslim candidates, i e, 44%. The re- inadequate. The Tamil Nadu Muslim maining 56% belonged to forward castes. Budgeting for Muslims Munnetra Kazagham (TMMK) planned a Only one Scheduled Tribe Muslim was According to a study conducted by the show of black fl ags to Prime Minister able to secure a seat. Centre for Budget and Governance Manmohan Singh during his visit to Accountability it was found that Chennai in December 2011. The party Going through the Motions? The share of Ministry of Minority Affairs argued that with 4.5% reservations The UPA II government was aware that (MMA) in the total allocation at 0.79% of to- Muslims will now have to compete with the cabinet decision would be challenged, tal central sector plan is insignifi cant...Out forward minority communities like as it happened previously in the case of of the total allocation, the four components of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Re- Christians and Sikhs. Table 2 shows a 5% minority reservations in Andhra newal Mission (JNNURM) constitute 70% of comparative socio-economic status of Pradesh. The petition was fi led by Andhra the total funds for the minorities. major minority communities. The TMMK Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Most of these allocations made under JNNURM proposed the implementation of the Association president R Krishnaiah and are notional as the scheme does not report Ranganath Mishra Commission recom- others. The bench, comprising Chief actual expenditures and benefi ciary data for minorities. The inclusion of minorities in mendations of a 15% minority quota. Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice JNNURM is found to be almost non-existent Dravida Munnetra Kaz hagam Member of P V Sanjay Kumar declared that this ac- at the state and district levels...With regard Parliament, M Abdul Rahman argued tion of the central government was to the MMA, the average utilisation of funds that it is a welcome step but in adequate based on religious considerations and not is around 78% of the total outlay for MMA in the MMA for Muslims. on any other intelligible consideration. 11th Plan period (total plan outlay for was Rs 8,690 crore). Of the total tentative alloca- Table 2: Comparative Socio-economic Status of Major Religious Groups at All-India Level tion of Rs 3,747 crore made in the 11th Plan Source Measure Muslim Christian Sikh for Multi-Sectoral Development Programme Census 2001 Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000) 95 77 82 (MSDP), the proportion of expenditure of to- Census 2001 Literacy rate (%) 59.1 80.3 69.4 tal proj ects approved (80 out of 90) was only SCR and Report on Notified Minority 34%...The overall utilisation of funds under Communities (other than Muslims, 2008) Landless population (%) 60.2 54.81 66.50 scholarship schemes has not been up to the Source: Sachar Committee Report, 2006. mark, although, the physical targets have been However, reactions on the 4.5% Muslim The question arises as to why the UPA overachieved in the plan period (CBGA 2012: 4). sub-quota do not critically analyse the government is indulging in misadven- question of “who would be the bene- tures on such an important issue. Various Need of the Hour fi ciaries”. Reservation based on religion factors are affecting the government’s The lack of seriousness in implementing has no precedent in the history of affi rm- decision. One obvious answer is the osten- the Sachar Committee report can be ative action. In case of Muslims, even if the sible sympathy towards Muslims. The Con- gauged from the discussions in the Seven- sub-quota is implemented, the major gress opinion on Muslims is actually a view teenth Report of the Parliamentary proportion would be appropriated by the advanced by Ashraf Muslims and their Standing Committee on Social Justice and Ashraf castes (noble, high castes). For in- interests. Salman Khurshid and Ghulam Empowerment (2011). This report, which stance, the Indian Institute of Techno logy- Nabi Azad at the centre are the co-opted was tabled in both houses of Parliament Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) poster boys of Muslims.
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