Rahul Gandhi hard sells reservation for minorities in UP

Hoping to woo Muslims voters in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi was today out to hard sell Centre's decision on sub-quota for minorities and attacked the BSP and SP for "doing nothing" for the community when they were in power in the state.

The Congress promised that the quota could also increase in future and that minorities could be given 6 to 8% reservation in government jobs in Uttar Pradesh if the party forms a government in the state.

Addressing a public rally in this minority-dominated district, Gandhi said that it was Congress which initiated the move for reservation for Muslims as it felt that they were not getting adequate opportunities.

"We implemented the Sachar Commission report.... Then we initiated the move for reservation. Prime Minister also took initiative. This will give you representation in education and jobs. We did it because we feel that we want to connect you," said Gandhi.

Accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav of "changing" their stance on Muslim reservation, he said they were in power in the state for a long time but made no such effort.

"Mayawati did nothing in five years. Mulayam Singh also made no effort. Now Mayawati says that we have asked the Centre to bring reservation.

"When the Prime Minister said there will be reservations (for minorities) then Mulayam Singh Yadav commented it is less. When you were Chief Minister why did you not do any such thing?" Gandhi asked.

The AICC general secretary also dared the SP chief to mention in his party's manifesto that he favours 18% reservation for Muslims, as he is now saying.

"He will never do it. When asked by the scribes about reservation for Muslims, Mulayam Singh Yadav had maintained complete silence. He threw away Rashid Masood (former SP vice-president) when he demanded reservation for Muslims. He (Mulayam) talks about you, but embraced Kalyan Singh to get benefit in elections," Gandhi said.

Crediting Gandhi for the recent Union Cabinet nod to allow 4.5% sub-quota for minorities from among the 27% reservation for OBCs, party general secretary in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Digvijay Singh said the share could also increase in future as per the findings of the caste survey.

He also promised that the minorities could be given 6 to 8% reservation in government jobs in Uttar Pradesh.

Extending the argument of reservation, Singh said those castes among OBCs who have failed to benefit from the reservation could also be given reservation separately.

Gandhi also targeted the Mayawati government on corruption issue and the sacking of 16 ministers. "We have sent crores of rupees in many schemes. Where did the money go. Ministers (in the state) consumed it. There is a magical elephant in Lucknow. While ordinary elephants survive on grass, this magical elephant eats up your money."

He said, "the elephant has eaten the money for five years and even digested it. Now Mayawati is changing the ministers. 16 ministers have been shifted, while only one month of the government is left."

Gandhi attacked the Samajwadi Party's track record on minority issues and said the SP had done nothing for the welfare of minorities when they were in power.

He also lashed out at the Samajwadi Party for its anti-development mindset and said it was opposing the development of state's human resources by opposing English and computer education in the state.

When asked by Gandhi if English and Computers were necessary for the development of the state, the public responded with a big roar at the public rally.

Taking on Mayawati, Gandhi said the Union government is bringing the Right to Food to ensure that no one in the country went to bed hungry. But, he said, the Chief Minister feels this move would not benefit anyone.

He said the Right to Food would provide 35kg of foodgrains to poor and charged Mayawati with making an attempt to dismiss it as an election gimmick.

"When we brought in NREGA, UP chief minister said the move would not benefit the poor. She says that the Right to Food cannot be implemented and dismissed it as an election stunt. She calls herself the leader of dalits in the state but the fact is that NREGA has benefited dalits the most," he said.

Gandhi said now that elections have been announced, the state government is making an effort to change her image.

"The chief minister is trying to mislead the people of the state by dismissing ministers when there is one month to go for the elections," he said.

Gandhi called on the youth of the state to lead the change that would bring progress to the state.

Talking about grant of 4.5% reservation of minorities, the Congress leader said a number of communities like Ansaris, Raeen, Qureshi, Teli, Malik, Momin, Mansuri, Rangrej, Saifis and Gada have already been included in the list of Backward Castes.

These communities and many more across the country would stand to directly benefit from the decision made by the Central government, he said.