NEW DELHI: A day forward of the second section of Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attacked the Congress authorities in Karnataka for its choice to categorize the whole Muslim neighborhood within the state beneath the OBC class. The Prime Minister has warned that the primary opposition get together will implement this mannequin in the whole nation. “Congress authorities in Karnataka declared all of the individuals of the Muslim neighborhood in Karnataka as OBC. Congress already added so many new individuals into the OBC neighborhood that earlier OBCs used to get reservations in schooling and authorities jobs however now these reservations they used to get been secretly snatched away from them,” PM mentioned whereas addressing a rally in Morena, Madhya Pradesh.
Throughout his speech, the Prime Minister went on to say that when Congress was on the Middle in 2011, it had determined to provide away part of OBC reservation on spiritual traces.
“On December 19, 2011, a notice was run within the cupboard which talked about that part of 27 per cent OBC should be given to a selected faith. Later, the Andhra Pradesh Excessive Courtroom struck the choice of Congress. They went to Supreme Courtroom however in addition they upheld the choice of Andhra HC in 2014, they once more talked about of their manifesto if the reservation must be given on the spiritual traces then they are going to go forward with it,” the PM mentioned.
“Right here in Madhya Pradesh, these getting the advantage of reservations reminiscent of Yadavs, Khushwahas, Gujjars and different backward lessons, all of your reservations will go away to their favourite vote financial institution. They wish to implement this mannequin in the entire nation,” PM Modi warned in Morena.
PM's 'assault' on 'spiritual reservation'… Know why PM Modi 'attacked' the Karnataka authorities on reservation?#PMModi #LokSabhaElections2024 #Congress , @priyasi90 pic.twitter.com/40xbW95Ar3— Zee Information (@ZeeNews) April 25, 2024
Labeling the Congress because the “largest enemy of the OBCs”, PM Modi mentioned, “As soon as once more, Congress has granted religious-based reservation in Karnataka by together with all Muslim castes together with the OBCs by way of the backdoor. This transfer has disadvantaged a good portion. of the reservation from the OBC neighborhood.”
Siddaramaiah's Counter-Assault On PM
Nonetheless, in a pointy rebuttal to PM Modi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the Muslim quota and mentioned the declare that the Congress had “transferred” the reservation from backward lessons to Muslims was a “blatant lie”. Siddaramaiah additionally questioned whether or not former Prime Minister Deve Gowda nonetheless stood by his assist for quotas for Muslims as he initiated the measure or “give up to Narendra Modi”.
“Is Deve Gowda, who as soon as boasted of implementing the reservation for Muslims, nonetheless dedicated to his stand? Or will they give up to Narendra Modi and alter their earlier stand? He ought to make it clear to the individuals of the state,” Siddaramaiah mentioned.
Prime Minister @narendramodi's declare that the Congress has transferred the reservation quota from backward lessons and Dalits to Muslims is a blatant lie.
It stems from ignorance but in addition indicative of his desperation born from a worry of defeat. No chief within the historical past of our… pic.twitter.com/626QZpRVJ0— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 24, 2024
NCBC Flags Karnataka's Muslim OBC Quota
Including gasoline to the hearth, the Nationwide Fee for Backward Courses (NCBC) chairperson Hansraj Ahir has questioned Karnataka's coverage categorizing all Muslims as a backward class. Ahir mentioned the state chief secretary could be summoned for not submitting the report based mostly on which Muslims have been included within the Different Backward Courses (OBC) class on the grounds of faith.
Ahir claimed that the Congress-led Karnataka authorities's OBC reservation coverage is depriving individuals of different backward lessons of their rights. This comes days earlier than the primary spherical of polling within the state for the Lok Sabha on 26 April. In keeping with the 2011 Census, Muslims represent 12.92 per cent of the inhabitants in Karnataka.
As per the info from Karnataka authorities, all castes and communities of Muslims of Karnataka have been included within the record of OBCs for reservation in employment and academic establishments beneath the state govt. Beneath Class II-B, all Muslims of Karnataka state have been… pic.twitter.com/eh1IYF3FX0— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024
What Is The Present Reservation Standing?
The Karnataka authorities supplies 32 per cent reservation to OBCs beneath 5 classes — Class I, Class II-A, Class II-B, Class III-A and Class III-B.
In keeping with the state's coverage, all Muslims in Karnataka are thought-about socially and educationally backward beneath Class II-B. As well as, in addition they get OBC quota advantages beneath two different classes; 17 Muslim communities have been listed in Class I and 19 Muslim communities in Class II-A.
The Muslim quota beneath OBC class grew to become a flashpoint throughout the meeting elections in Karnataka final 12 months. In March 2023, the then BJP authorities scrapped Four per cent OBC quota for Muslims (beneath Class II-B) and distributed 2 per cent every to 2 dominant communities — Vokkaligas and Lingayats. Nonetheless, the state authorities's notification was challenged within the Supreme Courtroom, which stayed its implementation.
Who Carried out The Quota For Muslims In Karnataka First?
A deeper dive into official data reveals that the Muslim quota in Karnataka was first carried out by the then HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal authorities in 1995. Curiously, the identical get together, JD(S), is now in alliance with the BJP-led Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA). The HD Deve Gowda authorities allotted 4% reservation to Muslims in Karnataka beneath a definite classification, 2B, throughout the OBC quota.
An order dated February 14, 1995, issued by the Karnataka authorities, says that this choice was based mostly on suggestions from the Chinnappa Reddy Fee Report and complied with the Supreme Courtroom's directive to restrict total reservations to 50 per cent.
The Reddy Fee recommended grouping Muslims beneath Class 2 within the OBC record. Appearing upon this suggestion, the Congress authorities led by Veerappa Moily introduced in April 1994 a six per cent reservation in Class 2B, labeled as “Extra Backward,” for Muslims, Buddhists, and Scheduled Caste converts to Christianity.
Whereas 4 per cent of the reservation was allotted to Muslims, the remaining two per cent was designated for Buddhists and SCs who transformed to Christianity. The implementation of this reservation was set to start on October 24, 1994.
Nonetheless, the reservation confronted authorized challenges within the Supreme Courtroom. An interim order issued on September 9, 1994, directed the Karnataka authorities to make sure that total reservations didn’t exceed 50 per cent, inclusive of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. Consequently, the Congress authorities led by Veerappa Moily collapsed on December 11, 1994, earlier than implementing the order, going through a political disaster.
HD Deve Gowda assumed workplace as Chief Minister on December 11, 1994. On February 14, 1995, he carried out the earlier authorities's quota choice with amendments in accordance with the Supreme Courtroom's interim verdict.
SCs who transformed to Christianity and Buddhism, beforehand categorized beneath 2B, have been reclassified into Class 1 and 2A respectively, in the identical order. Beneath the 2B quota, 4 % of seats in instructional establishments and state authorities jobs have been reserved for Muslims.
The OBC quota for Muslims beneath Class II-B persevered even after the Congress got here to energy. In July 2023, the Nationwide Fee for Backward Courses (NCBC) raised considerations concerning the reservation coverage throughout a discipline go to to the state.
