WITH MEMBERS of All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and other Ulema (clerics) resorting to daylong dharna today, political parties of all hues, except saffron, made a beeline for extending support to the demand for job reservation to Muslims.
Senior member of the board Zafaryab Jilani under the banner of Muslim Reservation Movement (MRM) resorted to dharna to press for acceptance of the demand for reservation to the community. While the ruling Samajwadi Party deputed its Lok Sabha member Shafiqur Rahman Burq to participate in the stir, the Jan Morcha Alliance (JMA) of former Prime Minister VP Singh was present in full strength to give a boost to the community’s demands. Apart from UP United Democratic Front president Yusuf Qureshi, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leaders were also present to woo the community.
In view of the fast approaching state Assembly elections Jilani has stepped up the movement for reservation to Muslims under Mandal commission. Jilani said the state’s development was not possible without giving due representation to 20 per cent Muslims in the state.
In a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Muslim Reservation Movement said reservation benefits to scheduled castes should also be extended to Dalit Muslims, who were engaged in similar professions. Jilani said under Mandal Commission the community should be given nine per cent job reservation. He said other Muslims, who were equally backward in educational and economic spheres should also be declared backward. Jilani said if the demands were not accepted the MRM would be forced to intensify stir. Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi, AIMPLB chairman, has already extended support to these demands.
{{/usCountry}}In a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Muslim Reservation Movement said reservation benefits to scheduled castes should also be extended to Dalit Muslims, who were engaged in similar professions. Jilani said under Mandal Commission the community should be given nine per cent job reservation. He said other Muslims, who were equally backward in educational and economic spheres should also be declared backward. Jilani said if the demands were not accepted the MRM would be forced to intensify stir. Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi, AIMPLB chairman, has already extended support to these demands.
{{/usCountry}}The speakers at the meeting called upon parties to put pressure on the government for the acceptance of the demands. They said it would be the yardstick for the community’s electoral support.