Date:24/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/24/stories/2007072459401200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Muslim reservation Bill passed

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Assembly late on Monday evening enacted the Bill paving the way for the Andhra Pradesh Reservation in Favour of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of Muslims Act, 2007, providing four per cent reservation for the said sections in educational institutions and public employment.

Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, Mukesh Goud piloted the bill that was welcomed by the Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (M) and the Janata Party. After sustained objection from Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), followed by Government’s reply by Minister for Minorities Welfare, Mohd. Ali Shabbir, the bill was passed. Akbaruddin Owaisi, (MIM) raised objections on how and why the original five per cent reservation was reduced to four.

No basis

He explained how there was technically no basis for reservations in the name of castes among Muslims, because the entire Muslim community was one.

Political motive

G. Kishan Reddy (BJP) reiterated his party’s stand all along, saying it was opposed to reservations in the name of religion. He wondered why the Government was not able to see reason even after being rapped by the Supreme Court of India and charged that the ruling party only had a political motive behind the move.