The Big Fight Program aired on 25th Nov 2006
On the outset I congratulate you on picking up a very apt and current topic of reservation for muslims.Your choice of Panelists as usual was of people with strong lungs.I would not comment on their depth and/or clarity in their perceptions.I would like to give following inputs in the debate.
1) The schedule of casts which is abbreviated as SC was of the so called ACHHOOT or UNTOUCHABLES. When amongst Christians/ Muslims there is no concept of untouchables, how a muslim could claim the benifits of SC. If as Mr. Owaissi quoted Gandhi that by conversion only the religion gets changed and not the cast,then it is a sad commentary on both Islam and Christianity. Hinduism has been long maligned (and rightly) as a casteist religion. Now we find Christianity and Islam too practicing the same curse.
2) Regarding backwardness of muslims. The people principally responsible for it are the so called self proclaimed muslim leaders. Even way back in 19th Century, muslims in India had opposed opening of English Medium schools in muslim dominated areas, apprehending that this would dilute their culture and cause decadence in their society. Whereas Raja Ram Mohan Ray had opposed opening of Sanskrit Medium schools and advocated for English Medium Schools, as he percieved that Indians would assimilate all that was happening all over the world,by being exposed to the language that was most dynamic at that particular period of time.
Even during a survey conducted in around 1884 it was observed that muslims though constituting 25% of the population (in undivided India)were way below their representative numbers or hindus in education and trade.This immediately after an 800 years of Muslim rule was the status of Muslims in India.Muslim society in India was backward even after Islamic rule of eight centuries.
There are 57 muslim countries in the world.Yet their sum total Gross National Income on purchase parity is less than India too.The number of Doctors,Scientists,Engineers etc., are the lowest per million. In a muslim country,the non muslims live a second close citizenship's life(thus spake Taslim).Muslims not only first right over the national resources,they have total control over all national resources in these 57 countries.Yet their condition is absymally low.WHY?
No one wants to face the facts. The Elite and Affluent Muslims left for Pakistan at the time of Partition. The weaker segement of the weaker society was left behind.
Again Mr Owaisi says that Muslim founded institutions have 50% non muslim students and Christian Father commented that in Christian Institutions 90% are from non christian background. Any Institution founded by anyone should not give any preference to any community. Or else people would start making even finer distinctions viz., a Birla Institute would start giving priority to Marwaris, Ambani Institute to Gujaratis, Tata Institute to Parasis.
I have seen with my own eyes a Christian founded College giving admission to a christian student with 44% marks and refusing admission to a Hindu student with 87% marks.I am proud no Hindu Institute follows this precedent.
Let me bring another fact to the notice of Mr Owaisi that in the running of the some of the called muslim Institutes even non muslims like G D Birla have contributed financially.
NO reservation but education and DEGHETTOISATION IS THE ANSWER.It is the primary responsibilty of the so called emancipated muslims to remove thier veil and get a panoramic view to improve their perspective. Throw away all the Obscurantist Imams , discard the Fatwa world. Come out of the corner you have painted yourself in. Do not try to live on sympathy. Reservation does not speak of equality it speaks of mercy.Reservation is a machiavellian politics which identifies Muslims as a statistical 13% vote bank.Reservation would only benefit the creamy layer of all societies,who do not need reservation.
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Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Sachar Committee Report In Parliament
ASADUDDIN OWAISI MP (HYDERABAD) : Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I rise to support the Bill that has been tabled in the august House. I have got some important points to bring to the notice of the august House.
The Sachar Committee report has been tabled in this House. It clearly states the educational backwardness of the Muslim community. According to Sachar Report, there are 39 per cent OBCs and 0.8 per cent Scheduled Caste in the Muslim community.
I support this Bill which provides reservation in Central Universities to SCs, STs and OBCs. However, I would like to know as to how fair it is to deny the benefits of reservation on the basis of religion, especially after the Government has tabled the Sachar Report in this august House which shows how bad my educational standards are and my conditions are.
I would just like to quote one point here as far as the report is concerned. Page 73 of Sachar Report clearly says, “The percentage of population of graduates, as far as the Muslims are concerned, is 1.2 and those attending P.G. courses is 16.3.” It is lesser in Muslims than in dalits also. You are not implementing these minority universities over there. But why is it that I am being denied such benefits? Moreover, the Presidential Order of 1950 contravenes the basic fundamental rights given in the Constitution.
How is it that only SCs belonging or professing the religion of Hinduism or Sikhism or neo Buddhism are being given reservation? Why not Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims? This question has to be pondered over by the Government. I would request you sincerely, Sir, that the Government should come forward and ensure that the 1950 Presidential Order, Schedule III is amended. It says that only a person professing Hinduism or Sikhism or neo Buddhism can be classified as Schedule Caste. How is that possible? This Report of yours clearly says this. There is this argument about Muslims and OBCs. Why is it such a low percentage is there? This has to be looked into.
Lastly, about Jamia Milia University, how is that the present Vice-Chancellor wants to implement this present Bill in Jamia Milia University? Why has the Vice-Chancellor overnight changed this position? Why are we being denied such benefits? I would request you that this issue has to be taken care of. They have applied to the National Minority Education Commission also. It is pending over there. If Jamia Milia University is not a minority University, then, which is a minority university? This is a very important question. These are important points I wanted to bring to the notice of the august House.
I support this Bill. I hope that this UPA Government will take affirmative action and will not deny us reservation under Article 16(4). If people are opposed to reservations to Muslims, they should look into the pre-native history of Article 16(4). It is none other than Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who has stated `classes’ means `Minorities’. He was the Chairman of that Advisory Committee. Why are Muslims having reservations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka? Why can they not be given reservations nationwide? It has to be done. Literacy rate of 13 per cent of population is only 59. There is a huge difference between literate and educated persons. You can very well imagine 13 per cent of population with a literacy of 59 per cent. Hence, I would request that the Government should come forward with the proposal and I hope that the hon. Minister, when he stands up to reply would respond to this or this UPA Government has to amend 1950 Presidential Order. They have to take affirmative action under Articles 15(4) and 16(4).
Thank you.
Mr Owaisi in his speech does not respond to any of the issues and points raised by me.The condition of muslims in India is despicable ,is a fact. I do not dispute the same. My blog is about the selection of "Reservation" as a wrong remedy.
It is sad that we come up with 'us vs them' attitude even while debating such important social issues. I would request you to be a bit more sensitive towards oppressed/backward communities and their needs. I am totally in favor of providing reservation to SC/ST/OBC as this seems the only way to somewhat reduce the huge gap created by centuries of oppression. Reservation is far from perfect method to this and have so many negative consequences but there doesn’t seem any other real feasible way in presentl situation.
As far as reservation for Muslims is concerned, I support it in principle. I dont understand how is it any different than reservation for SC/ST/OBC and even for women (none of them accept SCs are considered untouchables). But I do understand that in present scenario, without a broad consensus, providing reservation to Muslims would only do harm to society. It would be politicized by every party and would do more harm than benefit to the Muslim community. Having said that, government and society should help Muslims in all other possible ways e.g. by creating more and more minority institutes like AMU and by providing them with financial support for higher education.
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