Tag: minorities

HC seeks DU stand on St Stephen’s plea against absolute weightage to CUET score for minorities

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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought Delhi University’s response on a plea filed by St Stephen’s College against the varsity’s notification insisting on admission under minority quota solely on the basis of common university entrance test (CUET) score without an interview.
A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notices to DU as well as UGC on the college’s plea and asked them to file their replies.
The court orally remarked that the DU notification was “contrary” to a judgment passed by it last year in connection with the admission process. Based on this judgment, it observed the college can issue prospectus.

The judgment last year had allowed St Stephen’s College to admit minority students by additionally conducting interviews but upheld 100 per cent weightage to CUET score for non-minority students.
“The (earlier) judgment is in existence. We will issue notice,” the court said.
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the respondent, sought time from the court to file a reply to the college’s plea, saying there was no urgency in the matter at this stage.
The petitioner, represented by advocate Romy Chacko, has said it was a minority educational institution and its right to select students for admission and administer educational institution under the Constitution cannot be interfered with or taken away by the Delhi University.
It has contended that DU’s decision insisting on 100 per cent weightage for CUET score for admission under minority quota is ultra vires (beyond the powers) to Article 30 of the Constitution and unconstitutional.

“The Delhi University has now resolved that for admissions during the current academic year (2023), even in regard to 50 per cent Christian quota of seats admission shall be only on the basis of CUET score and no interview and addition of 15 per cent marks for interview will be permitted,” the plea said.
“The impugned decision of the University denying the petitioner college its right to conduct interviews for admission to undergraduate courses in the minority category is contrary to the judgment of this Honble Court dt. 12.09.2022 in W.P. (C) No. 8814/2022 in St, Stephen’s College Vs, University of Delhi which recognized the Petitioner’s right to select students of minority category by conducting interviews,” stated the petition.
Last year, St Stephen’s College filed a petition challenging DU’s letter asking it to withdraw its prospectus which gave 85 per cent weightage to CUET and 15 per cent weightage to college interview for admission to its unreserved seats in UG courses.
Holding that the rights accorded to a minority institution under the Constitution cannot be extended to non-minorities, the court in September 2022 directed St Stephen’s College to give 100 per cent weightage to the CUET 2022 score when giving admission to non-minority students in its undergraduate courses.
It said the college has the authority to conduct interviews in addition to the common university entrance test (CUET) for the admission of students belonging to the minority community but it cannot force the non-minority candidates to additionally undergo an interview.
The matter would be heard next in May.
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#seeks #stand #Stephens #plea #absolute #weightage #CUET #score #minorities
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 27, 2023
Telangana: Tenders called for minorities led garments production, training centres

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Hyderabad: The Telangana State Minorities Finance Corporation (TSMFC) is inviting sealed tenders from the government/government undertaking agencies/ registered manufacturers /dealers/suppliers for the supply and installation of garments manufacturing industrial sewing machines, furniture, tools etc, for the establishment of minorities community garments production and training centre in the districts of the Telangana.
Tender documents can be obtained from April 17, 2023, to April 26, 2023, during office hours by paying Rs.1,000 each by way of DD in favour of VC and Managing Director, TSMFC, Hyderabad, the last date for submission of sealed tenders is April 27, 2023, up to 01.00 p.m, The opening date of sealed tenders (technical & financial bids) is April 27, 2023, at 02.30 p.m., in presence of the purchasing committee members constituted by the government, a press note informed.
A separate short tender notice has been issued in tri-languages i.e. English, Urdu and Telugu, for the utility of the manufacturers, dealers and suppliers to expedite the government’s intention for the benefit of the poorest of the poor women of the minority community for providing self-sustainable, self-reliable employment through employment generation projects for the downtrodden to feed their kids/kins, the press note further said.

All the manufacturers/dealers/suppliers of industrial sewing machines, apparel garments machines and other equipment are advised to explore the opportunity by quoting the lowest bidding for the supply of industrial sewing machines and other equipment for the establishment of minorities community garments production and training centres in the districts of the Telangana state, in the interest of the minority community and development of the Telangana, TSFMC said.
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#Telangana #Tenders #called #minorities #led #garments #production #training #centres
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 19, 2023
BJP awaits PM’s visit to Kerala for major fillip in its outreach to minorities

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Kottayam: The BJP in Kerala is looking forward to the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state next week in hopes that it would give an impetus to its campaign aimed at bringing minorities into its fold.
The reason behind the expectation, according to BJP state president K Surendran, is the “flow” of people, especially from minority communities, to join the party.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Surendran said the BJP will begin a massive campaign to bring religious minorities into its embrace with Modi’s visit.

He said the Prime Minister’s trip to Kerala would be a turning point for the party as even before his arrival, people have started flocking to join it.
The BJP leader said around 80 persons from prominent families belonging to minority communities joined the BJP in Kottayam district today.
More are expected to join the saffron party from Pathanamthitta district in the coming days, he added.
“Kottayam was the beginning. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kerala, there will be a huge influx to the BJP from the religious minorities,” he said at the reception held here for the new members who joined the party.
He also said the party has prepared a list of persons whom it wants to invite as members and these are people who are concerned about Kerala’s future.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla met Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church at his residence.
After the meeting, Barla said in a Facebook post that it was “positive interaction”, where many national issues related to the Christian community were discussed along with the mission and vision of PM Modi.
During the day, he also met with Archbishop Kuriakose Mar Severios at the Knanaya Jacobite Archdiocese at Chingavanam and visited the St Kuriakos Elias Chavara pilgrim centre at Mannanam here.
Meanwhile, Surendran also said rubber rates will see some changes soon.
Recently, a senior Bishop — Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany — of the influential Syro-Malabar Catholic Church had said that if the Centre promised to increase the price of rubber procurement to Rs 300 per kilogram, BJP’s dearth of an MP from the southern state would be addressed.
His statement had created ripples in the political waters of the state.
On Tuesday, Surendran said the central government will take a stand favourable for rubber farmers and alleged that it was the state government which was lying to them.
He urged the ruling Left front to implement what it had said in the poll manifesto regarding rubber pricing and to indicate its stand on the issue of hiking the rubber price to Rs 300 per kg.
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#BJP #awaits #PMs #visit #Kerala #major #fillip #outreach #minorities
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 19, 2023
‘2nd largest Muslim population..’: Sitharaman denies violence against minorities

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New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday slammed the reports appearing in Western media about violence against minorities in India, especially Muslims, saying that those commenting on such issues should come and see the reality on the ground as India has the second largest Muslim population in the world and the minorities are not only growing exponentially, they have been incentivised and doing their business in the country.
In an interaction with Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute of International Economics in Washington DC, during her ongoing tour of the US, the finance minister gave Pakistan’s example, saying that it was created as an Islamic country which had promised to treat minorities equally, however there the minorities and even several Muslim sects, which don’t agree with the majority community, have been “decimated and diminished in numbers”.
“In sharp contrast, minorities in India have only grown in numbers since 1947 and have been doing their businesses comfortably…They have been getting scholarships. India has the second largest Muslim population in the world. The answer also lies in the fact that investors have been coming to India. I will say that please come and see for yourself the reality, rather than listening to those who haven’t even seen what is happening on the ground,” she said during the interaction, which focussed on “resilience of the Indian economy amid tightening of Indian conditions”.

She was responding to a question by Posen on violence against Muslims in India as reported by Western media and also opposition MPs losing their status (referring to Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Parliament).
Meanwhile on the Indian economy’s resilience, the finance minister said that “it is due to the enterprising nature of Indians. Despite suffering and loss of lives, we took up Covid-19 as a challenge and helped each other. The government extended support to people through targeted approach and undertook humanitarian steps.”
Speaking on supply chain disruptions, the finance minister said, “Given the shocks witnessed due to supply chain disruptions, MNCs have become prudent and are diversifying. India is poised for a more important role in the global value chains. India is attractive because of its skilled youth and large domestic market.”
Highlighting India’s future goals, Sitharaman said, “Today, we are reaching saturation in providing basic facilities to citizens such as houses, electricity, transport, etc., and are empowering them. Emphasis is there on financial inclusion so that all have bank accounts and benefits reach them directly. Going forward, we are focusing on skilling and digitisation so that there’s greater ease of living, transparency and formalisation of the economy.”
On emerging markets and G20, she noted that India is carrying forward agendas of earlier G20 Presidencies, bringing issues on table that India considers important and also making way for the future G20 Presidencies to build upon the legacy of India’s G20 Presidency.

“Emerging Markets have G20 Presidencies for three consecutive terms from Indonesia in 2022, India in 2023 and Brazil next year. This will bring views of the Emerging Markets to the front and also the voice of the Global South on to the G20 table,” Sitharaman added.AA
She further said that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are also holding a roundtable on Global Sovereign Debt.
“Initial discussions happened at the first G20 FMCBG in Bengaluru. India’s G20 presidency will create discussion and sharing of information on this issue and it will be taken forward positively,” the finance minister added.
On the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Sitharaman added that it should be more open about issues.
“WTO has to be progressive and fair to all members. It has to give voice to all and not just hear but also heed. There’s a continuation of a moratorium since 1998 on electronic transmissions despite evolution to the digital age. Shouldn’t there be a change in WTO policy in terms of a moratorium? We don’t have to reverse the benefits of globalisation but make it more transparent,” she emphasised.
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#2nd #largest #Muslim #population. #Sitharaman #denies #violence #minorities
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 11, 2023
‘Last chance’: SC to Raj, Telangana, J&K on identification of minorities

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday gave the states of Rajasthan and Telangana and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir six weeks to submit their responses on the issue of identification of minorities at the state level, after the Centre pleaded for giving them a “last opportunity”.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K M Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices S K Kaul and A Amanullah that responses were still awaited from Rajasthan and Telanagana. Part reply from Jammu and Kashmir was also awaited, he said.
He urged the bench to give them the last opportunity to furnish their responses.

The bench, while giving them six weeks to respond, said copy of its order be sent to the two states and the Union Territory informing them that the apex court will close the opportunity for accepting their responses if they fail to do so within the deadline.
The top court posted the matter for further hearing in July.
The apex court was hearing the pleas, including the one filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, which has sought directions for framing guidelines for identification of minorities at the state level, contending that Hindus are in minority in 10 states.
While hearing the matter on January 17, the apex court had expressed displeasure over six states and Union Territories (UTs), including Rajasthan and Telengana, not submitting their comments to the Centre on the issue of identification of minorities at the state level.
“We fail to appreciate why these states/Union Territories do not respond and thus give last opportunity to the central government to obtain the responses from them, failing which we will presume that they have nothing to say,” it had said.

On January 17, Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, had referred to the status report filed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs which said that 24 states and six UTs have so far furnished their comments on the issue.
The status report, filed in the apex court in January, had said that comments from six states and UTs — Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan and Telangana — were still awaited.
On November 22 last year, the Centre had told the top court that it has held consultative meetings with all state governments, UTs and other stake holders on the issue of identification of minorities at the state level and 14 states had furnished their views so far.
During the earlier hearing, Upadhyay had told the bench that he has challenged the validity of section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Education Institution Act, 2004.
Terming section 2(f) of the Act, which empowers the Centre to identify and notify minority communities in India, as “manifestly arbitrary, irrational, and offending”, his plea has alleged that it gives unbridled power to the Centre.
“Can minority status be decided district-wise? How can that be done,” the bench had earlier observed during the hearing.
On May 10 last year, the apex court had expressed displeasure over the Centre’s shifting stand on the issue of identification of minorities, including Hindus, at the state level and directed it to hold consultations with the states within three months.
In supersession of its earlier stand, the Centre had told the apex court that power to notify minorities is vested with the Union government and any decision with regard to the issue will be taken after discussion with states and other stake holders.
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#chance #Raj #Telangana #identification #minorities
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 10, 2023
SC to hear on Monday batch of pleas on identification of minorities at state level

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a batch of pleas seeking the identification of minorities at the state level.
A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Ahsanuddin Amanullah will take up for hearing the petitions raising various issues related to the identification of minorities, including challenging the constitutional validity of the National Minority Commission Act, 1992 and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutes Act, 2004.
The pleas include the one filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who has sought directions for framing guidelines for the identification of minorities at the state level, contending that Hindus are in minority in 10 states.

On January 17, the top court had expressed displeasure over six states and Union Territories (UTs), including Jammu and Kashmir, not submitting their comments to the Centre on the issue of identification of minorities at the state level.
“We fail to appreciate why these states should not respond. We give the last opportunity to the central government to obtain their responses failing which we will presume that they have nothing to say,” the top court had said.
Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, had referred to the status report filed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs which said that 24 states and six UTs have so far furnished their comments on the issue.
The status report, filed in the apex court on January 11, 2023, said that comments from six states and UTs – Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan and Telangana – are still awaited.
On November 22 last year, the Centre told the top court that it has held consultative meetings with all state governments, UTs and other stakeholders on the issue of identification of minorities at the state level and 14 states have furnished their views so far.

In its status report, the ministry has said that the “last reminder” was sent on December 21 to these six states and UTs which have so far not given their comments.
It said in one of the petitions, “the petitioner has prayed to put restrain on the Government of India from placing reliance/acting upon and implementing the Sachar Committee report, submitted on November 17, 2006, for running/initiating any scheme/s in favour of Muslim community or for any other purpose”.
The status report said that a petition with the same subject matter is pending adjudication before the apex court.
The ministry has said that apart from state governments and UTs, it held consultative meetings with other stakeholders including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Education, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI).
“All the ministries/departments have sent their views/comments,” said the status report which also annexed the copy of replies received from these ministries or departments.
The ministry said 24 state governments including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh have furnished their views.
Others are Haryana, Gujarat, Goa, West Bengal, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and six Union Territories namely Ladakh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Chandigarh, NCT of Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar islands and Puducherry.
During the earlier hearing, Upadhyay had told the bench that he has challenged the validity of section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Education Institution Act, 2004.
Terming section 2(f) of the Act, which empowers the Centre to identify and notify minority communities in India, as “manifestly arbitrary, irrational, and offending”, his plea has alleged that it gives unbridled power to the Centre.
Upadhyay had earlier referred to a 2007 judgement of the Allahabad High Court on a plea seeking the quashing of the May 2004 order passed by Uttar Pradesh recognising 67 madrassas for grant-in-aid.
He had said the high court verdict of 2007 has not been challenged.
“Can minority status be decided district-wise? How can that be done,” the bench had earlier observed during the hearing.
On May 10 last year, the apex court expressed displeasure over the Centre’s shifting stand on the issue of identification of minorities, including Hindus, at the state level and directed it to hold consultations with the states within three months.
In supersession of its earlier stand, the Centre had told the apex court that the power to notify minorities is vested with the Union government and any decision about the issue will be taken after discussion with states and other stakeholders.
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#hear #Monday #batch #pleas #identification #minorities #state #level
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 9, 2023
Hindu fundamental groups using Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanthi to target minorities: Report

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Hyderabad: Hindu fundamental organizations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, along with their affiliates, are using the Sri Ram Navami Shobha Yatra and Hanuman Jayanthi procession on big scale to target minorities said a report by the Citizens and Lawyers Initiative. Titled ‘Routes of Wrath – Weaponizing Religious Processions’, it was released with a foreword from Justice Rohinton F. Nariman, former Judge, Supreme Court of India reveals.
The book in depth explains about the communal violence and arson incidents reported in 12 states in India during the Sri Rama Navami Shobha Yatra processions. It is edited by senior advocate Chander Uday Singh.
What the report says
Ram Navami processions in particular, have been taken over by militant Hindutva organisations over the years, as the figure of Ram is central to the political imagination of the Sangh, said the report. A Shobha yatra, which translates to a “shining” or “glorious” procession, was different from traditional rath-yatras, which are organised by temples and are generally limited to nearby areas.

The Ram Navami Shobha yatras are grand processions of pomp and ceremony attempting to cover entire cities, involving cavalcades of vehicles, each carrying dozens of men, shouting slogans and frequently wielding arms, stated the report.
In April 2022, India witnessed communal violence breaking out in as many as nine states, along with incidents of provocation and low-grade violence in three others. “In all of them, the catalyst for the violence was the same: religious processions celebrating the Hindu festivals of Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, followed by targeted attacks on Muslim-owned properties, businesses and places of worship,” the report said.
The violence witnessed in 2022 and 2023 wasn’t the first time India has seen mob violence under the garb of religious festivities. However, the report noted that it took place on a much larger, seemingly coordinated scale than previous years. It elaborated that, “a breakdown of the rule of law was observed and documented in most of these towns and villages. The immediate violence associated with Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti processions saw more than a hundred homes and shops destroyed or burned down, vehicles set ablaze in every city, and multiple places of worship damaged or vandalized.”
The report speaks about the government action following the violence in forms bulldozing of houses of minoriy communities. “The riots was followed in quick order by State action in some of these cities and towns, which saw further destruction in the form of illegal demolitions of houses and shops, to punish those that the state branded as ‘rioters’ or ‘anti- social’ elements. The state-sponsored violence has also caused a crisis of displacement of Muslim families in riot-hit areas, either rendered homeless by the demolitions or having been forced to flee from their homes in fear of further state harassment.
Dating back to the pre-2000 era, when communal violence gained grounds, the report discusses how religious processions are precursors to communal violence. “In the 1970s and 1980s there were several communal riots that were triggered by processions that doubled up as a show of majoritarian strength. In the 1980s in particular, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) branded these as ‘yatras’. VHP reacted to the 1981 Meenakshipuram conversions of 150 Dalit families to Islam by taking out ‘ekatmata yajna yatras’,” the report poined out.

“It is important to note not only the nature of the (Ram Navami) processions and their strategies of inciting violence, but also the fact that the dates chosen for said instigation in 2022 were Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, both of which fell within the month of Ramzan. This was used by right- wing institutions of the state and the media in states like Gujarat to further conspiracy theories projecting Muslims uniformly as the assailants – whereas they have suffered the most losses,” it further highlighted.
These affected States are Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Goa and West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. The report by the collective also points out that communal violence are pre-planned in a majority of cases in the country. Wherever it was reported, processions took to a new route with lone intentions to create trouble.
In 2022, during Hanuman Jayanthi processions, violence were reported in Jahangirpuri locality of Delhi. The report quoting various sources pointed out, “A huge crowd had gathered with a majority of the participants armed with swords, knives, baseball bats and hockey sticks. A few of them were also brandishing kattas (country-made pistols). The first two rallies passed peacefully after they weren’t allowed to pass through the mosque on Kushal Road The third and final rally didn’t follow the prescribed route and reached Kushal Road crossing through B and C blocks.At around 5 pm, the procession had reached the mosque in Block C, Jahangirpuri, where the provocative nature of the procession caused violence to break out.”
In another instance in Himmatnagar, the biggest taluka of Sabarkantha district in North-Gujarat, a procession of 500-600 people organized by Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) entered Ashraf Nagar in Chhapariya area in a Muslim-dominated area between two Hindu localities – Shakti Nagar and Mahavir Nagar. The procession involved loud provocative songs, sword wielding and aggressive behaviour while marching with saffron flags they stopped in front of a mosque, the report said.
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#Hindu #fundamental #groups #Ram #Navami #Hanuman #Jayanthi #target #minorities #Report
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 3, 2023
BJP’s IT, minorities cells go on overdrive in UP for 2024 general election

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New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh is the most important state to capture the power in Delhi. For the last two Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has been achieving stupendous success in Uttar Pradesh. In 2024 also, the party wants to repeat this success again. This is the reason why the saffron party has made a completely different strategy this time in the state.
The BJP is considered far ahead of its opponents in terms of social media and IT reach. This time the BJP is further strengthening its IT team in the state — a strategy that will not be easy for its opponents to match.
About 27,000 IT teams are being prepared in the state. In fact, there are about 27,000 ‘Shakti Kendras’ in BJP’s state. These centres play an important role in taking the party’s campaigns, programmes to the grassroots level and taking feedback.
The BJP wants to strengthen its network by connecting these Shakti Kendras online. By doing this, the leadership will have a direct eye on the workers working at the grassroots level. Information related to the programmes and campaigns of the party will reach the workers in a better way. Along with this, the party will be able to do video conferencing with the workers even at the smallest level and will be able to get the grassroots feedback directly.
Significantly, in 2019, BJP had won 62 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Ten seats went to the BSP and five to the SP, while Congress got only one seat.
The BJP had won 71 out of 80 seats in the state in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. This success of the party was surprising as it had got only 10 seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Not only the IT department, BJP’s Minority cell in Uttar Pradesh is also way ahead in the preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
‘Sufi Samvad’
BJP’s Minority Morcha on Wednesday launched a year-long outreach programme for Muslims, named ‘Sufi Samvad’. The campaign launched in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections especially focuses on the Muslim-dominated districts in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala and Telangana.

According to the party’s minority morcha head Jamal Siddiqui, a team of 150 people associated with Sufism has been formed for the campaign, which will culminate in a large meeting addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative comes months after Prime Minister Modi suggested that the party workers reach out to Sufis, Bohras, and Pasmandas in the country’s Muslim community.
At the launch of the campaign on Wednesday, people working in Sufi dargahs across 30 states and Union territories gathered at the BJP headquarters to firm up various events under the campaign.
Majority of the events under this initiative will be held in the Muslim-majority districts and where there is a substantial population of Muslims.
A special focus will be laid on Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar and Telangana, which cumulatively send 199 members to the Lok Sabha.
Earlier in March, the BJP made history by retaking control of Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, three northeastern states that recently had Assembly elections, and keeping them under its control with the aid of its allies.
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#BJPs #minorities #cells #overdrive #general #election
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 26, 2023
Karnataka to abolish 4% reservation for minorities, places them under EWS category

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has announced its decision to scrap the four per cent quota for minorities and add it to the existing quota of two dominant communities of the poll-bound state.
The 4 per cent reservation given to Muslims under 2B classification of the OBC category will now be divided into two equal parts and added to the existing quota of Vokkaligas and Lingayats for whom two new reservation categories of 2C and 2D were created during the Belagavi Assembly Session last year.
The cabinet decided to bring the religious minorities under the EWS category.
The decision comes ahead of the Assembly elections.
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the religious minorities quota would be done away with and brought under the 10 per cent pool of the EWS category without any change of condition.
“The four per cent (reservation for minorities) will be divided into two between 2C and 2D. The four per cent reservation for the Vokkaligas and others will be enhanced to six per cent and Veerashaiva Panchamasali and others (Lingayats), who are getting five per cent reservation will now get seven per cent,” the CM explained.
The Cabinet had abolished 3A and 3B categories of reservation for Vokkaligas and Lingayats respectively and replaced them with two new categories of 2C and 2D last December.
Defending the decision to abolish the quota for Muslims, Bommai said there was no constitutional provision for religious minorities.

Citing a court verdict striking down the reservation provided for minorities in Andhra Pradesh, the CM said the architect of the Indian Constitution B R Ambedkar too had said that reservations were for caste.
“However, we cannot drop that community entirely. With a view that there should not be any problem, the religious minorities…if someone challenges reservation to them, we decided to take a proactive decision. In fact they will go from 4 per cent to the 10 percent pool of the EWS group without any change of condition,” Bommai explained.
Muslims are divided into three reservation categories 1, 2A and 2B.
The extremely backward religious minorities, who form the sub-sects of Muslims such as Pinjara, Nadaf, Daroji, Chapparband and are enlisted in category 1, will remain undisturbed and in the same reservation list.
Similarly, the government did not touch the Muslim communities under 2A category.
“Some other Muslim sub-sects in the 2B category will not be disturbed. They will only be moved to the EWS quota on the same conditions,” Bommai said.
There are some more small backward communities, who find mention in the Backward Commission’s report.
“They never figured in any list including the backward list. They are not in any category. Regarding them, the Backward Commission has mentioned in its second list. I will study the report in detail. Our government will take further decision on it in the coming cabinet.
Already, a recommendation has been sent to the Centre to include two shepherd communities Kadu Kuruba’ and Gonda Kuruba’ spread over four districts in the ST category.
Further, the Union government has made some references to two to three communities including Kadu Gollaru and Koli communities seeking the opinion of the department.
Bommai also said that the government will notify the communities under the EWS category.
Also, a decision was taken with regard to the SC community that 6 percent reservation would be given to SC left sub-category, 5.5 per cent to SC right, 4.5 per cent to touchables and 1 per cent to others.
Hailing the announcement, Adichunchanagiri Math pontiff and Vokkaliga leader Nirmalanandanatha Swami said the demand was made for 12 per cent reservation keeping in view the condition of the community.
“Given the situation, the government has increased the reservation from four per cent to six per cent for which we thank the government. We welcome the move,” he said.
The Panchamasali community of the Lingayat sect and the Vokkaligas have been demanding a hike in reservation for quite a long time.
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#Karnataka #abolish #reservation #minorities #places #EWS #category
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 25, 2023
Connect with people during Ramzan: Telangana Congress’ minorities dept asks cadre

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Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) minorities department chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail on Wednesday directed the district units of the department to intensify their activities in view of forthcoming Assembly elections.
He was addressing the Quarterly Review Meeting with Chairmen of all district units and State office bearers at Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday. He said that AICC minorities department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi and Telangana in charge Farhan Azmi have directed that all district units should actively participate in the Congress party’s programmes especially the ongoing Haath Se Haath Jodo Yatra across Telangana.
Abdullah Sohail asked the party cadre to connect with the people during the holy month of Ramzan. He also asked them to compile district-wise information about minority candidates who were denied subsidised loans, 2BHK units, pensions and other benefits by the BRS Govt. He said that the Congress party would approach all those candidates and aspirants who were deceived by BRS Govt in the last 9 years.
“In the first tenure, BRS government received loan applications from 1.54 lakh jobless youth. But it did not provide them with a single rupee. Those applications were later thrown in a dustbin. More than 2.16 lakh jobless youth applied for loans when fresh applications were called recently. With a budget of just Rs 120 crore, BRS Govt could give loans to lucky 12,000 applicants through a draw of lots. The remaining ‘unlucky’ candidates will get nothing. Congress party will meet those ‘unlucky’ candidates to tell them that their luck got infected after BRS came to power. In order to change their luck, they must change the government and bring Congress party back to power,” he said.
Similarly, Congress activists would meet the applicants of the 2BHK scheme to expose how BRS government ‘cheated’ them. “We will also give an assurance that they will be provided housing after Congress party comes to power in the next elections,” he said.
Abdullah Sohail said that the minorities department of the Congress party would focus on nearly 40 minority-concentrated seats, including 15 seats in the Hyderabad district. He said it has been decided to fill all the posts in the organization in the next month and an aggressive campaign would be launched immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr.
The Congress leader also announced that the TPCC minorities department would launch a series of chargesheets highlighting the failures of the BRS Govt in minorities’ welfare. He said that the first chargesheet was likely to be released by this month’s end.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 22, 2023