Many Muslim organisations have opposed the Union government's attempt to introduce 10% quota for the economically weaker sections among the forward castes. The Jamaat-e-Islami, Popular Front of India (PFI), and Wisdom Islamic Youth Organisation have termed the move as anti-constitutional and will disrupt the social fabric of the country.
In a press release here on Tuesday, Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala Amir M.I. Abdul Azeez said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had the next general elections and the upper caste vote up north in mind while coming up with such a proposal that required constitutional amendment. “Moreover, reservation is meant to address the social and educational backwardness, not economic backwardness,” he said.
The move to give 10% reservation for the forward castes who made up for 20% of the population was condemnable as the backward classes who formed 80% of the population were getting only up to 50% reservation, he said.
PFI chairman E. Aboobacker said the proposal was against the grain of the verdict in the Indira Sawhney case which ruled out economic criteria for reservation.
The Wisdom Islamic Youth Organisation said that changing the yardsticks for reservation would upset the social fabric of the country.