Muslim clerics demand quota for entire community

Muslims on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s order, but some clerics from the community sought quota for the entire community.

“It’s like winning a battle. But, the Muslims are yet to win the war. With the interim order, backward Muslim youth will now be eligible for reservations in colleges during this academic year,” Asaduddin Owaisi, an MP representing Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), said.

A similar reservation should be provided to Muslim women as part of the Women’s Reservation Bill, he said.

In Lucknow, ‘naib imam’ and member, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, said: “Four per cent reservation is too less. It should be extended to the whole community and not for certain castes. Islam does not recognise the caste system.”

Welcoming the interim order, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s iconic Jama Masjid also put in a word of caution for governments which have plans for implementing a quota for Muslims.

“Different states have adopted different attitudes on the issue of reservation for Muslims. The West Bengal government had recently announced a 10% quota. Usually, such decisions by governments ultimately languish in courts for years and political parties, which introduce such quotas, get away with reaping electoral benefits. The central government must adopt a uniform policy on reservation for Muslims in the country and ensure its implementation,” Bukhari said.

“What Andhra had done was right. The HC had struck it down saying the selection process of backward castes among Muslims was faulty. There are backwards in the Muslim community and they need reservation,” community expert Irfan Engineer said.