Date : 24-04-2024
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has voiced disapproval of the Karnataka Congress-led government’s decision to classify the Muslim community as a backward caste for reservation purposes, citing a breach of the “principle of social justice.”
According to the commission, equating socially and educationally backward castes or communities with an entire religion undermines the essence of social justice.
In Karnataka, all castes and communities within the Muslim religion have been included in the list of socially and educationally backward classes. This step allows the community to benefit from reservations in educational institutions and government appointments within the state.
“This classification has resulted in reservation benefits being extended to 17 socially and educationally backward castes under Category I and 19 castes under Category II-A,” stated the NCBC.
With Muslims constituting 12.92% of Karnataka’s population according to the 2011 Census, the national commission expressed concern that the Siddaramaiah-led government’s decision could infringe upon the rights of other Backward Classes.
Nevertheless, the NCBC acknowledged the existence of underprivileged and historically marginalized segments within the Muslim community.
“While the caste system is not endorsed in the Muslim religion, practical observations suggest that Islam is not entirely immune to casteism,” remarked the government panel. “Considering the entire religion as backward fails to acknowledge the diversity and intricacies inherent within Muslim society.”
Speaking to reporters in Gadag, former CM Basavaraj Bommai said, the Constitution has ruled out religion based reservation but the Congress party was supporting this as part of its appeasement politics.
Reacting to the strong exception to the religion based reservation in the Constitution by National Backward Classes Commission, he said that as many as 24 sub-sects in the Muslims like Chapparband, Nadaf and Pinjar, have been economically backward. They enjoy quota in 2A category. But they had been given an additional 4 per cent reservation and the Backward Classes Commission had taken objection for the same. Now the case was before the Supreme Court, said Bommai.
As per the data from Karnataka government, all castes and communities of Muslims of Karnataka have been included in the list of OBCs for reservation in employment and educational institutions under the state govt. Under Category II-B, all Muslims of Karnataka state have been… pic.twitter.com/eh1IYF3FX0
— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024
