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Muslims can be provided reservation in education and employment even under the present provisions of the Constitution, said Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed. Responding to the argument against bringing Muslims under the quota system, he said that “barring a microscopic minority (within the Muslims), the rest of the community is socially and educationally backward. Unless there is reservation, we will not be able to get adequate representation,” the Minister said, inaugurating a symposium organised here by the Tamil Nadu chapter of the All India Muslim Educational Society (AIMES) on the Prime Minister’s 15 Point Programme and the Rajinder Sachar Committee report on social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community at New College, Chennai.
Mr. Ahamed, a five-time member of the Lok Sabha and one who has served five terms as a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, said that in Kerala and Karnataka, the reservation benefits had been extended to the Muslims. Rejecting the criticism that reservation should not be on religious lines, the Minister contended that since the adoption of the Constitution, positive discrimination had been shown on the lines of religion when the Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Sikhs and neo-Buddhists were covered. But, the Muslims were left out.
Moosa Raza, chairman of the Southern India Education Trust, said the Muslims should win the sympathy of the majority community to convince the latter that it was in the national interest to improve their status. There should be a Standing Committee of Parliament for the minorities on the lines of the one for SC/STs. Central and State Governments should institute multi-level monitoring mechanisms with adequate minority representation to monitor the implementation of various measures for the minorities. The Union Government should establish an Equal Opportunities Commission, Mr. Raza said.
Presiding over the event, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, Prince of Arcot, requested the State Government to constitute immediately a committee comprising Muslim non-governmental organisations and individuals working at the grass roots for the speedy implementation of the 15-point programme. He hoped that the State Government, in its Budget to be placed shortly, would substantially increase its allocation for the minorities.
While pointing out that the Andhra Pradesh government had provided Rs.123 crores for the minorities in its 2007-2008 budget, the Prince hoped that the Tamil Nadu government too would allocate substantial funds for the Muslims in the forthcoming state budget. He said that Chief Minister, Karunanidhi has always been a sympathiser of the minority cause. Bashiruddin Babu Khan, AIMES president and former Andhra Pradesh Minister, said the community should take advantage of a number of Central schemes. He suggested the establishment of a forum for Muslim parliamentarians.
Dr. S. Sathik, former Vice Chancellor, University of Madras, Mr. T.P.Imbichammad, Secretary General, AIMES, Dr. Kamal Sheriff, Trustee, TAMGRADS, Dr. Hameed Abdul Khadir of the Sathak Trust. Mr. Khalid Buhari of the Seethakathi Trust, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor of Jamal Mohammad College, Trichy, Dr. Salahuddin, Secretary, AIMES, Mr. A. Faizur Rahman Joint Secretary, AIMES, Mr. Amiruddin of OMEIAT and Mr. M.Razzack of MES also spoke on the occasion.
(Source: The Hindu)
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