Lucknow: A day after demanding constitutional amendment for introducing reservation for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Sunday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking quota for the poor among the upper castes.
Mayawati also requested the PM to incorporate the reservation policy in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to ensure that it is not challenged legally. She said reservation was necessary to help those living below the poverty line, irrespective of their caste and class, and demanded that the backlog of vacancies in reserved category be filled immediately. Reservation should be implemented in private sector and other government or semi-government services as well, Mayawati added.
Maya’s letter on Sunday is being seen as an effort to strike a balance in her 'Sarvjan vote bank', which comprises dalits, Muslims, Brahmins and most backward classes. The CM reminded the prime minister that she had raised the issue of quota for upper castes on financial grounds in 2007 as well, soon after coming to power. She had also requested Singh to sanction financial packages for UP’s backward regions.
Muslims are 20% of UP's population and upper castes comprise around 12%. While Muslims can tilt the balance in one-third of 403 assembly seats, upper castes are crucial in around 100 seats. Brahmins can make a difference in around 60 seats. Maya had successfully wooed a section of Brahmins in 2007 by demanding 10% quota for poor upper castes.
Samajwadi Party leader Ahmad Hasan accused Mayawati of not fulfilling any of the promises she made in July 2007 in a meeting with Muslim Ulema. Although the opposition criticised Mayawati, all political parties barring the Bharatiya Janata Party supported Muslim quota as recommended by the Sachar Committee and Rangnath Commission. Union law minister Salman Khurshid is said to be preparing a legislation for Muslim reservation.
The SP has already demanded quota for Muslims. Muslim organisations have welcomed Maya's demand saying reservation for socially and financially backward Muslims should be implemented at the earliest.
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