Ahead of Karnataka elections, BJP govt scraps 4% Muslim quota

As the countdown has started for the announcement of Karnataka polls, the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government has done away with the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

The 4 per cent quota will now be equally shared by between dominant Vokkaligas and Lingayat communities. "A cabinet sub-committee recommended the changes in quota categories and we have done it," NDTV quoted the Karnataka CM as saying.

Muslims had come under Category 2B and now they will compete with EWS quota, which has Brahmins, Vysyas, Mudaliyars, Jains and others.

After the latest announcement, Vokkaligas have six per cent reservations and Lingayats have seven per cent reservations under Categories 2 (C) and 2 (D), respectively.

"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.

In addition to it, the BJP government has increased the reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) from 15 to 17 per cent and Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 3 to 7 per cent, India Today reported.

"There is no provision under the Constitution for reservation to religious minorities. It is not there in any state. In Andhra Pradesh, the court struck down reservation to religious minorities. Even BR Ambedkar said clearly that reservation is for castes," Deccan Herald quoted Bommai as saying.

"Sooner or later, someone might challenge reservation to religious minorities. So, the government has taken a proactive decision," he added. "In the literal sense, there are economic criteria to avail OBC reservation, even for minorities. We're moving [Muslims] from a 4 per cent pool to the 10 per cent EWS quota where the same economic criteria will continue," the Karnataka CM claimed.

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 per cent 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.