Muslims asked to identify as a caste, mark Islam as religion in K'taka's social, educational survey
Bengaluru: Top Muslim leaders have reportedly decided that their community members must identify themselves as a 'Muslim' caste under the religion of ‘Islam’ during the Social and Educational Survey starting September 22.
The directive was made during a late-night meeting on Thursday, chaired by Minority Welfare Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, as reported by Deccan Herald.
The meeting also included Haj Minister Rahim Khan, Government Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed, Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, retired IAS officer LK Atheeq, and MLA Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, Bengaluru Jamia Masjid’s Imam Maulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi among others.
“We have asked all our community members to participate. During the survey, it was decided that our members should identify ‘Islam’ as religion, ‘Muslim’ as the caste and sub-castes wherever applicable,” DH quoted Saleem Ahmed as saying.
The decision is intended to help Muslims in Karnataka retain their reservation benefits. The ‘Muslim’ community in Karnataka comes under Category-2B with a 4% reservation. Sub-castes like Pinjara and Nadaf come under Category-1, which also has a 4% reservation.
The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes has recommended an increase in the reservation for Muslims under Category-2B, from 4% to 8%. Saleem Ahmed stressed that identifying sub-castes is critical, as many are linked to specific professions. “If those Muslims who come under Category-1 don’t specify the sub-caste, then they may be put under Category-2B,” he said.
The previous BJP government had decided to scrap the 4% quota for Muslims, citing that religion-based reservations were unconstitutional. However, the decision was challenged in the Supreme Court and was not implemented. The current Congress-led government maintains that the reservation is based on backwardness as a social class rather than religion. The 2015 survey found that Muslims were the most backward community in terms of livelihood.
Meanwhile, the state government issued an order on Friday directing a comprehensive survey of the social and educational conditions of citizens across Karnataka. According to the order, the exercise will be conducted by the State Backward Classes Commission between September 22 and October 7.
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PM Modi, myself don't have 'wife issue': Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi (PTI): In a friendly banter, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he didn’t have "the wife issue", as the Congress MP emphasised that everyone has learnt from women in their lives.
Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced for amendments to the women's quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, Gandhi said women are a driving force in the national imagination and national perspective.
"All of us in this room have been influenced, taught, and have learnt a lot from women in our lives – from mothers, sisters, wives," Gandhi said.
"Of course, the prime minister and myself don't have the wife issue, so we don't get that input, but we have our mothers and sisters," he said while referring to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's light-hearted remark that he got a scolding at home as he did not pen a poem for his wife like Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal did.
Gandhi also lauded his sister and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
"Yesterday, I was watching my sister achieve in five minutes what I have not been able to do in 20 years of my political career – make Amit Shah Ji smile," Gandhi said to peals of laughter.
